Cadetten-almanak 1916

Curator: This piece is called "Cadetten-almanak," created in 1916 by Naamloze Vennootschap Bredasche Boekh. en Uitgev.-Mij. It’s an open book, displaying a portrait on the left page and printed text on the right. What’s your initial take on it? Editor: The aged paper just speaks to me—I can almost feel the fibers! The book has the aura of forgotten protocols and quiet endurance from a very different time. There is this ghostly man who has a feather on his hat, yet appears sad somehow. It makes you wonder what world he lives in. Curator: Absolutely. The materials are key here, starting with the paper itself. You know, paper at this time was largely a product of intense labor, from rag collection to processing. A publication like this underscores how printed matter shaped social structures and hierarchies. The almanac signifies something, who knows what. Editor: You’re right, the materiality matters so much. The very texture and weight of that paper were part of how knowledge and power were disseminated! Still, beyond the social context, there is something haunting in his stare, what was happening that year for him? Did he think of war? What would his tomorrow bring. Curator: 1916 would certainly imbue everything with uncertainty! And yes, let's dwell on the image again. It really is quite the portrait...that meticulous uniform, the stark formality juxtaposed against, as you mentioned, a palpable melancholy. It gives me the feeling that we are looking at one of those historical dolls. Editor: It's the juxtaposition, isn't it? The individual, standing as an example for all his fellows and his world turned sideways at the moment that picture was taken. And also think of how people consumed printed materials back then! The care with which they were handled, saved…a world of difference. I bet you that guy gave it his soul when the image was taken. Curator: Definitely. There's so much here to unravel, from the tangible nature of production to the emotions, perhaps a sort of lament, encapsulated within this 'Cadetten-almanak.' Editor: Yes, the silent weight of materials and the weight of emotions felt on both sides. A world where a book was the portal for much more.