Drie tekstbladen behorend bij de voorstellingen van de slag bij Nieuwpoort, 1600 1647 - 1649

These letterpress text sheets, created around 1600 by Everard van Reyd, recount the Battle of Nieuwpoort. The process begins with a metal matrix carefully cut with each letterform. Individual pieces of type are then arranged, inked, and pressed onto paper. The crispness of the print belies the amount of labor involved. Each character was meticulously placed by hand, a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the early printing trade. The texture of the paper, its weight and absorbency, all play a role in how the ink adheres, creating the final image. The industrialization of printing allowed for wider distribution of knowledge, yet it also highlights the contrast between the intellectual labor of the writer and the physical labor of the printer. By focusing on the materiality and production of this historical document, we gain insight into the socio-economic dynamics of the time, challenging any perceived hierarchy between art, craft, and industry.