Verklaring van de prent met de allegorie op Willem V als beschermheer van de Leidse Academie, 1775 1775

This is a print made in 1775 by Johannes le Francq van Berkhey and commemorates Willem V as patron of the Leiden Academy. The print is dominated by a dense block of text, framed by an ornamental border that adds a layer of decorative complexity. This immediately conveys the print's function as a formal declaration. The structure of the print, with its emphasis on text, reveals the period’s reliance on the written word as a primary medium for conveying knowledge and authority. The ornamental border, while decorative, also functions as a boundary, containing and emphasizing the text's importance. The use of elaborate typography and formal language underscores the print’s role in celebrating the academy. Consider how this piece destabilizes our modern expectations of visual communication; it challenges us to engage with language in a way that transcends mere reading, inviting a deeper consideration of the historical and cultural values embedded in its form. In essence, the print serves not just as a record but as an artifact that actively shapes and reflects the intellectual and cultural landscape of its time.