Het LXV-jarig bestuur van Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Prins Frederik der Nederlanden als Grootmeester Nationaal der Orde van Vrijmetselaren, in het Koningrijk der Nederlanden, onderhoorige koloniën en landen, herdacht in de Vergadering van het Groot-Oosten 19 Junij 1881 1881

Curator: This unassuming print, created in 1881, commemorates the LXV-year governance of Prince Frederik of the Netherlands as Grand Master of the Dutch Freemasons. It was designed for the Grand Orient Assembly of June 19, 1881. Editor: You know, even before knowing what it is, there's a subtle gravity to this piece. It looks aged and solemn. Curator: Indeed. The style of the typography, with its columned text and formal script, speaks to a specific era and its aesthetics of power. These visual elements contributed to the symbolic language through which power legitimized itself. Editor: It's also got that official document vibe. A bit stiff, wouldn't you say? But then, perhaps that's the point. It has the weight of authority but in the most quietly powerful way possible, right? Curator: Precisely. Printed ephemera like this played a crucial role in shaping collective memory. The commemoration becomes formalized, circulated and, in its own way, canonized through these very printed pieces. It helps solidify the symbolic and institutional history of the Order. Editor: Almost like pinning a memory to paper so it will last longer than the moment itself. It's interesting how seemingly mundane items like this were actually charged with representing important facets of an institution. Looking at it makes me think of hidden meetings and rituals—very ‘Da Vinci Code’ I guess. Curator: A connection not without merit. Freemasonry was steeped in its own symbolic and ritual language, a private discourse aimed to enhance solidarity amongst the brothers of the Order, and maintain specific virtues in public life. Editor: You know, in today's image-saturated world, something this simple and dignified almost feels radical. A calm voice from another century. Curator: I find that these unassuming pieces often offer the most profound insights. Editor: Totally agree. I walked in expecting old paper, but left thinking about the secrets hiding in plain sight!