Menu voor een diner op 22 maart 1885 before 1885

This is a menu card for a dinner on March 22nd, 1885, made by an anonymous artist. It's printed on cardstock and adorned with colorful flowers. What interests me most is how this small object reflects the industrialization of taste in the late 19th century. Mass production had lowered the cost of printed materials, making them accessible to a wider range of people. This card is not unique, but rather one of many, cheaply reproduced, and available for purchase. The floral design, though appearing hand-painted, was likely also mechanically produced. This speaks to the period's growing consumer culture, where even intimate occasions like dinners became opportunities to display printed artistry, made possible by industrialized methods, and a growing class of workers. The democratization of aesthetics, driven by industry, is evident in this simple card.