Bandontwerp voor: Max Rooses, De teekeningen der Vlaamsche meesters 1900 - 1915

Johann Georg van Caspel sketched this design for Max Rooses's "The Drawings of the Flemish Masters." This period saw the rise of art nouveau which embraced natural forms and the burgeoning commercial art world. Caspel's design, likely created around the turn of the century, embodies this intersection. The delicate, organic motifs, reminiscent of stylized leaves, suggest an appreciation for the natural world, common in art nouveau. Yet, this artistry is harnessed for the very practical purpose of adorning a book. It speaks volumes about the cultural value placed on art and craftsmanship as society navigated rapid industrialization and urbanization. The design invites us to consider the relationship between art and commerce, and the ways in which artistic expression became intertwined with the world of publishing. It whispers of a time when even the book itself was seen as a canvas for artistic expression.