Tekstblad bij een portret van Jan Scharp Possibly 1786 - 1789

This printed page, a “Tekstblad bij een portret van Jan Scharp,” was made by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey in 1786. The process here is printing, a method that allowed for relatively quick reproduction of text. The inky letters are impressed into the paper, a stark reminder of the labor and technology involved in disseminating information during that era. Notice how the crispness of the print gives legibility to the words. Each letter was individually cast in metal, carefully arranged, inked, and pressed onto the page. This was painstaking work, requiring a skilled hand and precise coordination. The labor of printing also had a powerful social impact. It democratized knowledge by making texts more accessible to a wider audience. We can appreciate how the printed word connected people and shaped public opinion. It is a testament to the power of craft, technology, and labor in shaping our understanding of the world.