Document bij Kruis voor Belangrijke Krijgsverrigtingen met gesp Guinea 1869-1870 of Medaille voor Moed en Trouw voor Guinea 1869-1870 van Penninaja Kwassie no.2 Possibly 1870

This document, by the Ministerie van Koloniën, presents a study in contrasts through its composition and detailed lithographic technique. The eye is drawn to the decorative elements, which are juxtaposed with the central text. The piece is structured with a clear hierarchy. At the top, heraldic symbols, including crowned lions, frame the title, immediately establishing authority and historical context. Below, the formal typeface of the document text provides a stark contrast to the ornate, almost whimsical, borders that incorporate tropical scenes with cannons and tools. This interplay suggests a tension between the official declaration and the colonial landscape it references. The use of black ink against the light paper creates sharp definition, emphasizing the graphic quality and highlighting the symbolic weight of each element. It operates within a semiotic field, where the visual and textual codes combine to communicate power, duty, and the colonial narrative.