Kermisprent van de Amsterdamse courantombrengers voor het jaar 1853 1853

Editor: So, here we have "Kermisprent van de Amsterdamse courantombrengers voor het jaar 1853," a mouthful, I know. It’s from 1853. Apparently, it’s by Dirk Wijbrand Tollenaar. The piece combines lithography, etching and engraving. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The overall impression is very… formal and public. A bit like civic pronouncements in pictorial form. I wonder, what's your take? What story do you see unfolding here? Curator: "Kermisprent," you say. Carnival print. A glorious, chaotic burst of ink and sentimentality! Imagine those Amsterdam news vendors, door-to-door heralds, distributing this celebratory poster during the fair. The cityscape jostles above a sea of dense lettering. Do you notice how the architecture almost seems to dance above all that crammed text, the rhymes attempting to reflect this sense of abundance and joy? Editor: It's true, the words almost look like wallpaper. I'm so used to digital type; it's amazing to consider handwriting presented with this kind of dedication. Curator: Indeed! It was more than a visual greeting. Consider the layers: the dedication, the illustrated scene, the dense text. These aren't just informative declarations; it's performative – meant to be recited, shared, experienced as a communal offering. It is hard to imagine the intent here, perhaps something about celebrating public events with personalized care from a courier... What if this poster was a personal "hello" as much as a public pronouncement? It changes how we interact, eh? Editor: I see what you mean. Like a really fancy holiday card combined with the town crier. Thinking about it as an early form of direct mail... changes my perception. Curator: Precisely! It bursts with civic pride. A great print, for us, for them, really.