Nieuwjaarswens van de Amsterdamse courantombrengers voor het jaar 1850 1849 - 1850

This New Year's greeting to the citizens of Amsterdam for 1850 was made with a printing press. Look closely and you can see how the printer utilized a combination of metal type and engraved illustrations to create this elaborate broadside. Printed ephemera like this was common in the 19th century, a direct result of the industrial revolution. The rise of mechanized printing brought with it an explosion of cheap, accessible materials available to the masses. The printing press was not just a technology, but also a powerful means of circulating ideas and creating a shared culture. While the production of this broadside undoubtedly involved specialized labor, like typesetting and printing, it also speaks to the expansion of literacy and the increasing availability of information in everyday life. The crisp lines and standardized lettering speak to the industrialized aesthetic that defined this era. It is a testament to the democratization of communication during the 19th century.