Haagsche Extra-courant van 14 oktober 1797 Possibly 1797

This is a fragment of a newspaper, printed by Johannes de Groot en Zoonen around 1797, using moveable type. The high-contrast black ink on off-white paper speaks to a process of mass production, essential for disseminating information widely. The dense columns of text reveal the labor involved in typesetting each letter, line by line. Consider the social context: this was a time of revolution, and the printing press was a vital tool for shaping public opinion. The material itself, cheap and reproducible, allowed for the spread of ideas, influencing political discourse and social change. Note how the printer’s mark at the bottom proudly declares their role in this process. The imperfections and wear of the paper further emphasize the ephemeral nature of news, intended for immediate consumption, yet now a historical artifact. This piece challenges the traditional hierarchy of art, elevating a common, functional object to a significant cultural document, reflective of the era's values and the labor that sustained it.