Bladmuziek voor de wals: Erinnerung an Haarlem 1835

This is a piece of sheet music from 1835, titled "Erinnerung an Haarlem," composed by J.J. Viotta and printed in Amsterdam. The visual composition is dominated by the stark contrast of black ink against the off-white paper. The arrangement of musical notes and symbols creates a dense, intricate pattern, structured into horizontal lines of the staves. This linear structure is punctuated by the varying shapes and densities of the notes, rests, and clef symbols. The musical notation itself is a semiotic system. Each symbol is a signifier, contributing to the complex structure of the musical piece. The title, printed in a larger, more decorative font, hints at the cultural context and the composer's intent to evoke a sense of place and memory. The materiality of the printed page—its texture and the slight imperfections—adds another layer of meaning. It is a cultural artifact from a specific time, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.