Handgeschreven document Possibly 1747

This announcement of Jacob van Geleyn's death on April 29, 1747, was made with paper and ink by Thomas Oeges. The stark presentation and bold font of the letters reflect a no-nonsense sensibility. The paper's texture and aging evoke the era. Printing in this period was a labor-intensive process, involving the skilled work of typesetting each letter, inking the press, and carefully aligning the paper to produce a clear impression. The material's inherent qualities—the paper's absorbency and the ink's viscosity—determine the overall aesthetic. This was a craft tradition, highly specialized and crucial to the spread of information. The announcement hints at the social context of 18th-century Amsterdam, where news of death was formally communicated, and where every printed page represented a significant investment of labor and resources. The additional handwritten numerical additions, bring a sense of the materiality and process, and challenge conventional art history categories, reminding us of the intricate intersection between craft, design, and daily life.