Courant ter ere van de geboorte van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden, op 24 augustus 1772 Possibly 1772 - 1779

Editor: This is a broadside, or early newspaper, from around 1772-1779, created by Pierre Gosse the Younger. It’s titled "Courant ter eere van de geboorte van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden, op 24 augustus 1772," which I believe means “a paper in honor of the birth of William I Frederick, King of the Netherlands”. It seems so formal, official... almost like propaganda? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, I see a fascinating intersection of power, print culture, and the construction of identity. Think about the historical context: this broadside celebrates the birth of a future king. The very act of printing and distributing this document is a political act. How does it performatively construct Willem I Frederik's identity *for* the people? Editor: So, more than just reporting news, it's actively shaping public perception? I hadn't thought about it that way. The typography also seems quite deliberate, designed to convey authority. Curator: Exactly. Consider the use of neoclassicism too - that frame of ornate decorations evoking Roman authority. This visual language consciously links the Dutch monarchy to a historical legacy of power. We can then ask ourselves whose stories are being centered. What perspectives might be silenced or marginalized in this carefully curated narrative? Who had access to disseminate *their* stories at this time? Editor: That's interesting. So it is not only the paper as a medium of information, but as a statement for people's beliefs? Curator: Precisely! This birth announcement isn't neutral. What can an analysis of this ephemera tell us about how identity, politics and gender were negotiated? And who benefited from these systems of power and representation at the time? Editor: That definitely gives me a lot to think about. Looking at it as more than just an announcement, but as a cultural and political statement. It has a power of it’s own, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. I am pleased we opened a new discourse to think about this broadside's position. I think understanding these contexts allows us to critically engage with not just art history, but how these narratives continue to shape our present.