Geboortekaart van Johan Cornelis Blankert, geboren 15 september 1940 c. 1940s

This birth announcement for Johan Cornelis Blankert, born September 15, 1940, is a quiet little document, printed in dark ink on off-white paper. I'm thinking about how this was made, this tiny painting of words. Did they use a printing press? Letter by letter, each word pressed onto the page to announce a birth during wartime. I wonder, did the anonymous artist think about how their arrangement of the text might affect the message? It's so formal and matter-of-fact, yet it speaks of life and hope. It's also a testament to human connection, mentioning the Red Cross, and reassuring everyone about the mother and Hans’s health. You know, looking at this, I think about all the unsung artists out there, the everyday heroes making art in the service of life. And it reminds me that art isn't just about self-expression; it's about communication, connection, and care. It’s about being in conversation with each other.