Omslag met serie huizen te Bedfordshire 1826

This is the cover of Studies of Buildings in Bedfordshire, transferred to stone by Jan Dam Steuerwald, made in 1896. The lettering on this print is more than mere information; it’s a symbolic doorway into the values of its time. Notice the contrasting typography. ‘Bedfordshire’ is written in a heavy serif, evoking the steadfastness of classical architecture, while ‘Studies’ above it, rendered in a sans-serif typeface, suggests modernity and progress. This juxtaposition mirrors the broader 19th-century tension between tradition and innovation. The very act of creating architectural studies connects to an ancient tradition of understanding the world through its built forms, echoing Vitruvius’s architectural treatises. Yet, here it’s reborn through the then-modern lens of lithography. The typeface becomes a battleground where old meets new, revealing our ongoing attempt to reconcile our roots with the relentless march of time. This print is not just an announcement but an invitation to reflect on how we carry our past into the future.