Titelpagina voor: Georg Gesner, Christelijk handboek bevattende gebeden, beschouwingen en overdenkingen, 1820 1820

This is the title page for Georg Gesner's Christian handbook, printed in Haarlem in 1820 by the widow A. Loosjes Pz., and designed by A. Vallenduuk. The printmaking process would have involved engraving or etching a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper onto the plate to transfer the image. Look closely at the crisp lines and elegant letterforms; these are typical of the intaglio process. The choice of typography and layout lends a sense of order and reverence. The mass production of printed materials like this was closely tied to the rise of capitalism. It meant that ideas and texts could be disseminated more widely than ever before, contributing to social and intellectual change. Yet the labor involved in creating these prints, from the skilled engravers to the printers themselves, also reflects the social context of the time. Understanding these material and social dimensions allows us to appreciate the full significance of this seemingly simple title page.