Prentenboek met voorbeelden van moedige en uitnemende daden - 2B 1840

This is "Prentenboek met voorbeelden van moedige en uitnemende daden - 2B" by Kita Busei, created in Japan. The book presents a flat, muted blue surface, aged with subtle creases and worn edges that speak to its history. A vertical rectangular panel, rendered in faded yellow and inscribed with elegant black characters, anchors the composition. The surface materiality emphasizes its age, while the arrangement of text imposes a structured order. This interplay between decay and order invites a deeper consideration. In semiotic terms, the text acts as a signifier of historical narratives, while the book's physical condition becomes a signifier of time and cultural transmission. The visual structure challenges the viewer to reconcile the pristine ideals of courage with the imperfect reality of physical existence. Consider how this tension destabilizes traditional notions of heroism. The aged book cover questions the enduring nature of values and the processes through which cultural knowledge is passed down.