Cadetten-almanak 1913

Curator: Oh, hello! At first glance, it seems like we’re peeking into someone's old diary or a well-loved textbook left open to a crisp, blank page opposite a title page. Editor: Indeed. What we're observing is the 'Cadetten-almanak' from 1916, published by Naamloze Vennootschap Bredasche Boekh. en Uitgev.-Mij. It appears to be a print on paper. I find myself wondering about the narratives it silently holds from that era. Curator: I agree, I’m particularly drawn to the quality of the paper. It has aged, but also seems of decent quality and you know how much a nice piece of paper helps a narrative, doesn't it? All this typography… you just know somebody wanted to hold onto this for a very long time. What are your thoughts about what purpose it had? Editor: Considering its origins from a military academy, the "Cadetten-Almanak" might serve various purposes, possibly documenting cadet life, containing regulations, important dates, or even as a register—essentially constructing an official record while shaping identity, enforcing discipline and normalizing violence.. It feels so very distant from today. Curator: Oh, totally. But that "Cadetten-Almanak" also screams potential for mischief! Imagine cadets doodling in the margins, tucking in secret notes or forbidden items. I like thinking that hidden beneath all those formal typeset letters is where someone hid the realities of how young these cadets actually were. Editor: Precisely! That intersection between institution and individual is something fascinating to explore further; what stories it wants to tell us. It speaks volumes about the way institutions sought to mold individuals while individuals sought ways to navigate those very structures of power. Curator: A quiet rebellion inscribed in paper. I love that! Thanks for shedding new light on an object that at first, to my eye, only whispers about long-forgotten academics. Editor: My pleasure. Every item holds a mirror to the power structures it comes from! It's exciting to think about how those quiet inscriptions reflect and reshape history.