Vreugdecourant bij de geboorte van prins Willem Frederik George, 1792 Possibly 1792

This ‘Vreugdecourant,’ or news-sheet, was printed by J. Peppelenbos in 1792 to celebrate the birth of Prince Willem Frederik George. It’s a simple object, just ink on paper, yet it speaks volumes about the political climate of the Netherlands at the time. The printmaking process itself would have involved a skilled artisan carefully carving an image into a block, probably wood, which was then inked and pressed onto the page. This was a labor-intensive process, demanding precision and expertise. In comparison to today's printing technologies, this would have been a slow process, and therefore luxury. Consider the distribution of this news-sheet. It would have been circulated among a relatively literate elite, reinforcing their sense of national identity and allegiance to the House of Orange. In that respect, it’s an example of how even a humble printed item could serve as a powerful tool in shaping public opinion, and promoting the interests of the ruling class. It challenges our assumptions about the distinctions between fine art and everyday life.