Pamflet 1918 - 1919

This public notice by the Amsterdam city council is like a painting, but instead of brushstrokes, it uses words and typographic forms. Just imagine the official who designed this: they are thinking about how to make the message clear, but also how to make it official, serious, maybe even a little bit scary. The words are bold, like dark shapes, and the leading is tight. It feels very direct, you know? Like, NO SELLING FRESH BREAD BEFORE 11 AM! I bet the designer was thinking about how to make the words stand out on the page, how to grab people’s attention. And the coat of arms at the top—it's like a signature, a mark of authority. You see how the layout creates a rhythm. You see how the form is about getting your attention, getting you to obey. It's a historical moment where text becomes a tool for controlling daily life!