Uitnodiging voor de begrafenis van Theodorus van Schelluynen, 1776 1776

Hendrik Vieroot made this invitation to the funeral of Theodorus van Schelluynen in Amsterdam, 1776. As a printed announcement, its dominant symbols are textual, carefully arranged to convey solemnity and respect. The typography itself becomes a symbolic language. Notice how the name "Theodorus van Schelluynen" is prominently displayed, anchoring the visual composition, drawing focus to the individual, a motif seen across millennia in funerary art. This act of naming echoes ancient Egyptian practices of inscribing names on sarcophagi, ensuring the deceased's identity endures. The mention of him as 'Bedienaar des Godlyken Woords'- minister of the word of God- is also quite prominent. Consider the emotional weight this announcement carries. The careful selection of font evokes a sense of dignity and tradition, reflecting a collective memory of mourning rituals that bind communities together. This simple announcement taps into the subconscious awareness of mortality and the enduring human need to commemorate and remember. The announcement is cyclical, death and remembrance following each other into perpetuity.