De Vrije Kunstenaar; religieus en politiek onafhankelijk orgaan voor de Nederlandsche Kunstenaars Possibly 1945

This broadside, printed in March of 1945, is a call to arms for Dutch artists. But instead of rifles, their weapons were printmaking and the written word. The broadside is printed on cheap paper, reflecting the scarcity of materials during wartime. The text, dense and urgent, speaks of a world in ruins, not quite a paradise, and urges readers to rebuild their homes and lives after the war. Note the emphasis on labor, with the writer stating "...see there the task of the human, where he has been working for thousands of years." Consider how the act of printing itself becomes a form of resistance. The artist Dico used readily available materials and a printing press to produce a powerful statement about art, politics, and the human condition. The layout of the text suggests a deliberate design, with different fonts and sizes used to create emphasis and visual interest. This broadside reminds us that art is not just about aesthetics. It's about communication, social commentary, and the power of creative expression to shape the world around us.