Aanplakbiljet Possibly 1919

This poster was printed by the Municipal Board of Amsterdam in 1919. It is a sign, a public service announcement, and a plea. The orange letters on an off-white background communicate a warning about bread rationing. I like to imagine the person who designed this poster. What kind of person were they? Did they feel proud of their clean typography? Did they have any sense of how this little poster would function as a historical document? And what was going on in the world? 1919 was a time of great social upheaval. The First World War had just ended. People were hungry. This poster is a reminder that even the most ordinary objects can be beautiful and meaningful. It also reminds us that art is not always made in a studio by an artist. Sometimes, it is made in a government office by a civil servant. I think that the people who made this poster would be happy to know that their work is still being seen and appreciated today.