Nederlands-Indonesisch bankbiljet van tien gulden 1930

This ten gulden banknote from the Dutch-Indonesian Bank was printed in 1930. I imagine the process of creating this tiny artwork involved so many precise steps and collaborations – the initial design, engraving the plates, choosing the right paper, and then the printing itself, not to mention the signatures! Looking at the portrait on the right, I wonder about the person depicted and the choices the artist made in rendering their likeness. Was it about capturing a specific individual or representing an idealized type? The swirling patterns around the edges make me think about ornamentation, and the way value and beauty are often intertwined. The artist is working in a long tradition. The whole thing makes me think about how money is so abstract, yet so tied to our physical world and our desires. Every detail on this little piece of paper carries meaning, intention, and a whole history embedded within it.