STAAT VAN OORLOG. De burgemeester van Deventer maakt bekend, dat deze gemeente bij Koninklijk besluit met ingang van heden in staat van oorlog is verklaard. Deventer, 1 septr 1939 / De burgemeester voornoemd, 1939

Arnoldus Vrauwdêunt’s 1939 artwork, "STAAT VAN OORLOG", is a printed document announcing that the municipality of Deventer has been declared in a state of war by royal decree, effective immediately. The piece is a stark reminder of the beginning of World War II and its impact on the Netherlands. The simple typography, with its bold lettering, underscores the gravity of the situation. It is a document that serves as a historical artifact, bearing witness to a significant moment in European history. This piece of printmaking, with its historical significance, showcases the power of visual communication to capture critical moments in time.