Rey van edelinghen 1894 - 1901

This is "Rey van edelinghen," made by Antoon Derkinderen; it is a print on paper. Derkinderen wasn’t afraid to get medieval; he looked to illuminated manuscripts for inspiration. Here, he used the printing press to create something like a page from a hand-lettered book. Of course, in the 19th century, printing was industrialized, so it’s not like Derkinderen was toiling away in a monastery. Still, the design evokes that feeling of careful making. The lettering is ornate, with delicate flourishes and embedded figures. Even the color of the ink—a muted gold—suggests something precious and timeless. All of these material qualities, and the mode of production, imbue the work with its own cultural significance, challenging traditional notions of labor and value. Ultimately, this print reminds us that even in the age of mass production, the desire for handcrafted beauty endures.