Visitekaartje aan Andries Bonger before 1934

This is a calling card addressed to Andries Bonger by the Comtesse de Waresquiel, made of paper with printed and handwritten elements. The printed text is in a clear typeface, while the handwritten messages are in an elegant, flowing script, probably with a fountain pen. The act of producing such a card involved a sophisticated division of labor. Paper mills would have made the card itself, printers the typeface, and then the Comtesse would have added her own personal touch. You might even say that she was collaborating with the Industrial Revolution to produce a unique object! In this light, the calling card is not just a message, but a physical manifestation of social relations. It is a subtle reminder of the power dynamics between the aristocracy and the emerging middle class, a fascinating blend of craft, commerce, and social ritual. By considering its materiality and production, we can glimpse the complex interplay of tradition and modernity.