Handtekening van Johannes de Mare 1816 - 1889

This is Johannes de Mare's signature, made with ink on paper sometime in the 19th century. Seemingly a humble piece, its simplicity speaks volumes. The rapid strokes and the flourish of the pen reveal the personality of the man behind the name. Paper, of course, was a relatively mass-produced material by this time, crucial to bureaucracy, commerce, and the dissemination of ideas. The signature, then, becomes a personal mark made on a ground of standardized production. The very act of signing also carries social weight. It's a mark of agreement, authorship, and responsibility. In a world increasingly governed by contracts and legal documents, the signature gains power. So, while this may seem like a fleeting trace, it reminds us that even the simplest materials and processes are deeply intertwined with social context, labor, and the evolving structures of society. It prompts us to look beyond the surface and consider the underlying stories embedded in even the most unassuming of artifacts.