Beschrijving van de aanslag van Helling op Amsterdam, 1577 18th century

This anonymous account of an attack on Amsterdam, dating to 1577, was made using iron gall ink on paper. This was a common combination for manuscript production in that era. The ink, made from iron salts, tannin, and gum arabic, bites into the paper, creating a lasting, if sometimes corrosive, effect. You can see how the handwritten text, filled with dense detail, conveys a sense of urgency, almost as if the author were scribbling down events as they unfolded. Think about the labor involved: the gathering of materials, the preparation of the ink, the steady hand required for consistent penmanship. Before the printing press became widespread, handwriting held significant cultural value, and manuscripts were essential for disseminating information, propaganda, and personal narratives. The attack may have been brief but the record is permanent, thanks to the durable medium and the careful labor of its creation.