Morgen Bulletin Possibly 1945

This is a news bulletin from April 24th, 1945, somewhere in the Netherlands, printed on what looks like flimsy paper. Imagine Duyff, the person who made it, picking up the pen, writing the script, and carefully laying out the blocks of text. It's full of information about troop movements and the state of the war. It’s so matter-of-fact, but you can sense the tension in the air and get a sense of how much the news was needed. What kind of courage did it take to print and distribute it? I think about other artists who have used text in their work, like Jenny Holzer. She put words out into the world, too, but usually projected onto buildings. Here, Duyff is using the technology he has available—the printing press—to get the news to the people. Artists respond to the world around them and often build on each other's ideas. This humble news bulletin is a powerful reminder of the importance of information and free expression.