Verklaring / van het / Jagt-spel 1814 - 1848

This broadside, dating from around 1800, was made by Mindermann & Co. in Amsterdam, using paper and ink. It's a set of rules for a hunting game, printed in letterpress. The choice of printing is very telling. This wasn't meant to be a precious object, but rather something that could be reproduced quickly and cheaply for mass consumption. You can imagine these being churned out in large numbers, distributed to shops or even sold on the street. The texture of the paper, the crispness of the type, all speak to a burgeoning print industry, and a growing middle class with leisure time to fill. Consider the labor involved: from the papermakers to the typesetters to the press operators, a whole network of workers contributed to this object. And ultimately, it was made to facilitate a game centered on hunting, an activity historically associated with the aristocracy, now seemingly within reach of a broader segment of society. The seemingly humble piece of paper thus reveals a fascinating intersection of materials, making, and social change, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and everyday life.