Menu voor het diner ter ere van het vijfentwintigjarig jubileum van De Nederlandsche Spectator before 1885

This menu card, commemorating the 25th anniversary of De Nederlandsche Spectator, was likely produced in 1885 with ink on paper. The printing process, probably lithography or a similar method, allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of both text and image. Look at the way the design of the menu, including the elaborate border and depiction of a celebratory feast, would have required skilled labor. The printing trades in the late 19th century were intensely competitive, with a complex division of labor. Each element of this piece, from the typesetting to the decorative elements, would have been the work of specialized artisans. Consider also the social context: this menu speaks to a culture of elaborate dining and the importance of printed ephemera in commemorating events. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can reveal much about the labor, materials, and social practices of their time. This challenges the traditional hierarchy between ‘fine art’ and everyday design.