Spelregels bij het Schutterijspel, ca. 1795-1815 1795 - 1815

This broadside, printed between 1795 and 1815 by Hendrik Moolenyzer in Amsterdam, lays out the rules for a game called "Nieuwe Schutterij," or New Militia. It’s a humble object, made through the relatively simple process of letterpress printing. You can imagine the individual letters meticulously arranged, inked, and pressed onto the paper. As a multiple, this sheet was designed to be widely distributed and consumed. Its function was purely practical, intended to communicate information to a specific audience. Yet, it's also a window into the social life of the period. Games like these provided opportunities for socializing, and perhaps even gentle satire of military life. The references to fines, sergeants, and provosts give a sense of the playful, yet structured, nature of the game. The broadside invites us to consider how even ephemeral, mass-produced objects can offer insights into the culture and pastimes of everyday people.