Bericht van intekening voor de prent met het allegorische grafmonument voor prins Willem V, 1806 1806

This is a subscription notice for an allegorical print of a tomb for Prince William V, made in 1806 by Johannes Groenewoud Jansz. Its structure is defined by the stark contrast between the black text and the off-white paper, a graphic simplicity which creates a formal tension. The text is densely packed, with the title boldly displayed at the top, drawing immediate attention. The overall composition creates a sense of order and hierarchy, with the most important information centered and larger in size. Yet, this formal arrangement destabilizes any fixed meaning. The announcement challenges traditional memorial art, questioning values through its commercial nature. It reduces grief to a transaction. Groenewoud’s work functions not just as an announcement but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse on memory, commerce, and representation.