Reisdocument Possibly 1833 - 1838

Editor: So this printed paper document, "Reisdocument," is believed to be from the 1830s. It looks like some sort of travel ticket for a steamship. It is intriguing how something so utilitarian has survived to become a piece of history on paper. How do you see it? Curator: The beauty for me lies in what this simple piece of paper reveals about the social and material conditions of travel at that time. This isn't just a ticket; it’s a product of evolving print technology and increased mobility linked to the industrial revolution. Editor: Can you tell me more about the printmaking process that created the image of the steamship? Curator: Look at the typography. Note how the fonts are used to convey a sense of officialdom and modernity – very specific to the era. Also consider the cost of the paper and the print process itself. Was this readily available to everyone? Or were such journeys only for the burgeoning middle class? What does that say about access and leisure in the 1830s? Editor: I never thought about a simple steamship ticket relating to social class so deeply! It prompts us to think about what it really meant to travel back then. Curator: Precisely. It connects consumerism and craft with the larger currents of the era. Travel created access to new raw materials, consumer demands and also colonial expansion. Consider that on your next travels. Editor: I appreciate your perspective so much. I’ll definitely look at the material aspect of things a lot more! Curator: And I think reflecting on labor will impact your artistic thinking going forward.