Title Page for De ziels-opheffing - Arnold Houbraken

A historical title page for Johannes d'Outrein's 1702 theological text, featuring period typography and a decorative woodcut ornament.

This print represents the title page for the theological work De ziels-opheffing, authored by Johannes d'Outrein and published in Dordrecht between 1702 and 1703. The design is attributed to Arnold Houbraken, a Dutch painter and writer known for his biographical work on artists of the period. The composition follows the conventions of early eighteenth-century Dutch printing, utilising a hierarchical arrangement of text to guide the reader through the title, the author's credentials, and the publication details. The typography employs a mix of roman and italic typefaces, with specific lines highlighted in red ink to create visual contrast and emphasis. The layout is balanced, anchored by a central woodcut ornament depicting a stylised floral motif, which serves as a decorative break before the imprint information. The text provides a detailed account of the contents, referencing specific psalms and the author's role as a professor in Dordrecht. As a piece of historical ephemera, this document offers insight into the aesthetic standards of Dutch book production during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The clarity of the letterpress and the precision of the woodcut ornament reflect the technical proficiency of the period's printers, such as Joannes van Braam, who is credited at the foot of the page. This print is a specimen of the intersection between religious literature and graphic design in the Netherlands, capturing the formal rigour expected of academic and theological publications of the era. The preservation of such pages allows for an examination of historical typesetting practices and the visual language of early modern intellectual discourse.