Berlin’s Covered History
Anja de Jong
DISCIPLINES
Editorial, Print
Telling the stories behind Berlin’s seemingly ordinary locations
DISCIPLINES
Editorial, Print
About the book
‘Berlin’s Covered History’ is a compelling photobook by Anja de Jong, created during her tenure as an artist in residence at the Kunstfabrik am Flutgraben in Berlin from March to August 2007. The project delves into the inescapable historical narrative of the European continent as it manifests in Berlin.
De Jong’s work connects contemporary locations in Berlin with significant historical events through both imagery and titles, influencing the viewer’s perception and memory through an understanding of the past.
The book’s launch took place on October 17th at the CBK Dordrecht during the opening of the exhibition “51° 49′ N 04° 40′ O – Photoprojects of Anja de Jong 2004-2009,” where Flip Bool presented the first copy to George Lawson.
About the Design
The design of ‘Berlin’s Covered History’ by graphic designer Renate Boere embraces the historical context of De Jong’s project. The book features typography set in Concorde (released in 1969), a typeface designed by renowned German type designer Günter Gerhard Lange, who was a pivotal figure at the H. Berthold AG type foundry in Berlin. Lange’s typefaces remain influential and widely used today.
The book’s cover and the first 16 pages are printed using a stencil technique, a method historically employed by communists in the late 1940s to reproduce their publications. This technique had practical advantages: it could be executed in private homes, and the resulting printed text bore slight variations that obscured the origins, making it difficult for authorities to trace them back to a specific printing press. Resistance groups frequently utilized stencil machines, and today, the technique is experiencing a revival among contemporary artists for its distinct bright colors and unique aroma.
Following the stencil-printed part, the book features 30 pages of full-page photographs intuitively taken by De Jong. These images serve as the foundation for her post-image textual investigation, capturing ordinary locations around Berlin that bear witness to the city’s somber moments during WWII and the Communist era. The captions for these photos are concealed within a folded flap at the back of the book, aligning with the concept of hidden history. This design choice creates a conceptual narrative that reveals the hidden stories of these seemingly ordinary locations.
This thoughtful integration of historical printing methods, typography, and visual storytelling reflects the book’s deep connection to Berlin’s multifaceted past, making ‘Berlin’s Covered History’ not just a visual journey but a tactile historical experience.
“This design choice creates a conceptual narrative that reveals the hidden stories of these seemingly ordinary locations.”
“The project delves into the inescapable historical narrative of the European continent as it manifests in Berlin.”
Colophon
Concept project and book: Anja de Jong, Dordrecht
Photography: Anja de Jong, Dordrecht
Authors: Jan Brokken, Amsterdam & Anja de Jong, Dordrecht
Translation text: Jan Brokken: Willem Groenewegen
Translation of other text: Ton Landsmeer & Jenny Rietdijk-Shepherd
Design: Renate Boere
Print: stencil: Extrapool, Nijmegen
Offset: Ando bv, The Hague
Binder: Hexspoor bv, Boxtel
Publisher and distribution: Anja de Jong
Edition: 350, of which 30 copies as a special edition, signed and provided with a digital pigment print made by the photographer