THE MUSEUM OF INSTANT IMAGES
Printer's
devices
Emblem books
Mail art project 
Dutch version
English version
Emblems are everywhere. As soon as bookprinting was invented, printers
themselves started printing their own devices on the title-pages of their
books. (http://candl.let.uu.nl/)
In the 16th and 17th centuries emblem books were very popular in most
of the European countries: in Italy,
Great Britain, France
and in The
Netherlands. Their richness of ideas and expression influenced
and inspired the great artists of those days. Research on this is still
proceeding as you can see on the linked websites. (E.de Jongh, Kwesties
van betekenis, Leiden 1995. / E. de Jongh, Still-life in the age of Rembrandt,
Auckland 1982.)
An emblem is a combination of a picture (in a frame of various possible
forms), a motto (a proverb or a short enigmatic expression) and a epigrammic
text. The combination enables the reader to decode the hidden symbolism:
good or bad qualities of persons, the company, society or religion.
The forerunner of the emblem was the mediaeval escutcheon that heraldy
can tell you all about.
But it is remarkable that nowadays emblems still exist both in modern
artistic form and contemporary language, expressing topical ideas. The
company-sign, posters, stickers and graffiti, they all want to make their
statements. Word and image teach us their lessons.
In mail art the same phenomenon occurs. In fact the principle of this artform
is based on connecting word and image in order to communicate ideas of
artists all over the world.
*
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I Muestra Internacional de Poesia Visual y Mail Art ==---
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Mail art project
On your own device
Send me your emblem
-
a picture in a frame (square, circle, oval, cartouche, etc.)
-
add a device, a motto on a banner, in a frame or in, under or over the
image
add a (short) explanation of the imaginary meaning, regarding your
personality, artwork, profession, company or express your personal view
on society, politics or religion, etc.
Maybe it is possible for me to make up a new contemporary emblem book,
bringing together present-day ideas and opinions from all over the world.
Symbolic reflection of modern man.
Size and technique free
Deadline: 1st August 1998
Documentation to all participants
Online gallery on WWW http://www1.tip.nl/~t716543
.
Exhibition 8th January - 12th
February 1999 Koning
Willem II College
Tatraweg 80 - Tilburg - 5022DS
- NL
Exhibition
Library Berkel Enschot 3/5/99-1/6/99
Send your contribution to:
.
ColoriMii
The Museum of Instant Images
Beckershagen 15 - Chaam - 4861SE
Pays Bas - The Netherlands - NL
.
or e-mail: toon.joosen@tip.nl
(jpg, gif, html)
to the 
galleries
Take your time (each gallery - about 250 Kb). The artists took
their pains.
mail your emblem to toon.joosen@tip.nl