Lijst van de negen afgezette Amsterdamse raadsleden, 1787 1787

This document, made in 1787 by an anonymous artist, is composed of brown ink on paper. The script's linear precision contrasts with the page's slight discolouration and gives the document an immediate sense of historical depth. The careful calligraphy structures the information; each name meticulously listed and aligned. The structural arrangement suggests a world governed by order and categorization. Yet, the act of listing deposed council members hints at underlying power dynamics and social upheaval. The handwriting itself, with its individual flourishes, acts as a semiotic system, subtly revealing character within the rigid structure of official documentation. Consider how the neat rows of text challenge any fixed meaning. The list destabilizes the council members' established roles and prompts us to rethink power, representation, and social identity. In essence, this seemingly straightforward list functions as a powerful site of ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.