Verklarende tekst behorend bij voorstelling met het vuurwerkpaviljoen te Den Haag gebouwd ter gelegenheid van de feestelijkheden rond het sluiten van de Vrede van Aken op 11 juni 1749 1749

This explanatory text relates to a firework pavilion built in The Hague in 1749, celebrating the Peace of Aachen. It's printed on paper, a relatively new and efficient medium at the time, allowing for mass communication. The choice of paper is significant. Prior to industrialization, paper was made by hand, a labor-intensive process involving pulping fibers, forming sheets, and drying them. This particular text, though, likely relies on industrialized methods of print. The regularity of the font suggests a systemized, almost mechanical mode of production. The text itself describes a temporary structure built for entertainment, reminding us of the fleeting nature of spectacle and the labor required to create it. Consider the work involved in setting the type, running the printing press, and distributing the finished product. These were all skilled trades, part of a burgeoning capitalist system fueled by trade and consumption. This artifact stands as a testament to the intersection of art, industry, and social context, challenging us to look beyond the image and consider the hands that made it possible.