Prospectus voor de uitgave van de serie prenten: Tafereelen uit het Burgerlijke leven van de Hollanders in de Achttiende Eeuw 1811

This is a prospectus for a series of prints, made by Evert Maaskamp in Amsterdam in 1817. The composition is dominated by text, meticulously arranged to convey information about the prints. The texture of the paper is evident, with slight discolorations and imperfections adding a sense of age and authenticity. This visual experience evokes a feeling of stepping back in time, into the world of 19th-century Dutch publishing. The structure of the text itself offers a semiotic system. The title, prominently displayed, acts as a signifier, pointing to the content of the prints: scenes from the civic life of 18th-century Hollanders. The careful arrangement and hierarchy of information reflect broader cultural values of clarity and order. Yet, the aging of the paper also introduces a disruptive element. The materiality of the print, with its imperfections and signs of age, challenges the notion of fixed meanings. It reminds us that art is not just about the information conveyed but also about the physical presence and historical context in which it exists.