Uittreksel uit het register van de burgerlijke stand betreffende Johannes Tavenraat after 1881

This is a Dutch civil registry extract concerning Johannes Tavenraat, created by an anonymous author. Dominating the document are the stark contrasts and linear precision with which information has been inscribed. Notice the structured layout, and the tension between the rigid typographic elements and the fluid, calligraphic handwriting. These formal elements reflect a societal impulse to codify and categorize information, to impose order through visual systems. The use of a pre-printed form, over which unique details are meticulously added, speaks to a tension between standardized regulation and individual existence. The document exists as both an administrative tool and a personal record. The visual formality— the careful arrangement of text, official stamps, and signatures— acts as a semiotic framework. It's a system where each element, from the font to the placement of seals, signifies authority, legitimacy, and historical presence. Ultimately, the document reveals that bureaucratic forms are not neutral; they participate actively in constructing meaning and validating certain narratives while omitting others.