Aankondiging van de prentenreeks en van acht zangen van de Utrechtse maskerade van 1851 1851

This poster, printed by Dannenfelser & Doorman, announces a series of prints and songs from an 1851 masquerade in Utrecht. It’s made using letterpress printing, a technology which dates back to the 15th century, but which was still very much in use at this time. The process involves arranging individual pieces of type, inking them, and pressing them onto paper. You can imagine the time and labor involved in setting the text for this poster. The cost, listed near the middle, indicates the relatively high value of colored inks. The price difference for the black and white version suggests how color was considered a luxury, adding to the overall value of the poster. While seemingly simple, this announcement reflects a sophisticated interplay of materials, process, and social context, demonstrating how the means of production influence our understanding of an artwork. By looking at these factors, we can begin to dissolve the traditional hierarchy between fine art and everyday printed matter.