Uitnodiging voor de begrafenis van Susanna van Cracou before 1720

This invitation to Susanna van Cracou's funeral was printed in Amsterdam in 1720 by the heirs of Jacob Lescailje and Dirk Rank. The paper itself is a humble material, but its transformation through the printing press elevates it. Consider the labor involved: from the making of the paper, likely from recycled rags, to the skilled typesetting and operation of the printing press. Each letter, carefully placed, contributes to the somber yet elegant announcement. The texture of the paper, its weight in the hand – these physical qualities speak to a society where even death was mediated through the printed word. Note the formal language and the emphasis on punctuality. This isn't just a notice; it's a carefully crafted social performance. The printing press, a technology then still relatively new, democratized information, yet this invitation also reminds us of the social hierarchies of the time. By attending to these details, we see how even a seemingly simple artifact opens a window onto the world of 18th-century Amsterdam, blurring the lines between craft, commerce, and the rituals of daily life.