Beschrijving bij de maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1870 1870

This work, made in 1870 by J. Hazenberg Corns Zoon, presents us with a curious formal arrangement of text on paper. The eye is drawn to the central block of text, where the phrase "BEZOEK GEBRAGT AAN LEIDEN IN 1586" is highlighted. The symmetrical organization of the text creates a sense of order and hierarchy. The formal structure here invites us to consider how meaning is constructed. The careful arrangement of words, from the heading "GECOSTUMEERDE OPTOGT" to the details about Robert Lord Dudley, can be interpreted as a semiotic system. Each word is a signifier pointing to a signified concept, event, or historical figure. But beyond this, the work destabilizes the idea of fixed meaning. The choice of typography, the spacing, and the very act of presenting historical information in this way create an interplay between information and representation. The work thus challenges us to reconsider how historical events are constructed and communicated through textual and visual forms.