De morgenstond 1848

This is a page from a magazine for young people, printed by J. Schuitemaker in Purmerende. The primary material is paper, printed with ink in a series of eight vignettes, accompanied by musical notation. The method of production would have been printing, and the images themselves appear to be engravings. Note the contrast with the relative luxury of the family depicted in scene seven – they are reading together around a table – compared with the blacksmith, shown in scene five. The latter image highlights the labor involved in early industrial production; in the image, he stands at his anvil, hammering a piece of metal. This scene is a direct contrast to the supposed leisure of other scenes. Considering this contrast, we can see how deeply this print is implicated in the culture of labor, politics, and consumption. This magazine is a reminder that even seemingly simple printed matter is the result of complex processes, and embedded in broader social and economic relationships.