Omslag voor 42 proefdrukken en vroege staten van illustraties voor Ovidius' Art d'Aimer en Longus' Daphnis et Chloë 1935 - 1937

This is Aristide Maillol's cover for 42 proof prints and early states of illustrations for Ovidius' Art d'Aimer and Longus' Daphnis et Chloë. The album's design presents a structured simplicity, where the off-white canvas provides a muted, tactile experience, inviting a focus on pure form. The ribbons, tied at regular intervals, create a rhythmic pattern that softens the geometric rigidity of the cover. Maillol's choice of unadorned material points to a modernist sensibility, where the essence of form triumphs over elaborate decoration. This aesthetic decision resonates with the broader artistic movements of the time, which sought to strip away the superfluous and reveal the underlying structure. The texture of the canvas, though subtle, introduces an element of sensory engagement, contrasting with the flatness often associated with graphic arts. This cover, therefore, acts as a prelude, setting the stage for the literary and visual content within. Its formal restraint invites us to consider how simplicity can serve as a powerful aesthetic statement, reflecting a deeper engagement with material and form.