Overlijdensbericht betreffende Jean Bernard Possibly 1833 - 1836

This is an anonymous printed death announcement for Jean Bernard, dating from 1833. It is rendered in stark black ink against a pale ground, the formal, symmetrical arrangement and varied font sizes create a visual hierarchy, leading the eye through the vital statistics of Bernard's passing. The bold declaration of the name, set against the more delicate script of the surrounding text, introduces a tension that can be understood through the lens of semiotics. The design functions as a carefully structured message, encoding cultural codes about mourning, status and public record. The layout reflects an emerging modernist aesthetic of clarity and functionality, a departure from the ornate, decorative styles of earlier eras. Notice the precision in the lines of text and their spatial relationship. This interplay isn't merely informational, it's an early form of visual communication where typography itself becomes a signifier of the modern era, reflecting the changing cultural landscape and the rise of mass communication.