Schutblad voor het boek Naamloze Vennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken 1891-1916 1916

This book cover for Philips, made by Theo Nieuwenhuis, feels so light and airy, like a memory. It’s all flowing lines and the palest tan. I’m drawn to that central lozenge of dense floral patterning, like a little world held within the larger grid. Looking closely, the surface seems almost textile, like a linen napkin, and that single colour, deployed in layers, gives it depth. It has the feel of something printed, probably from a block, with small variations and imperfections in the lines and shapes. These variations give it life. They are a trace of the artist’s hand. It reminds me of some of William Morris’s wallpaper designs, though more restrained, less imposing. Both artists seem to share a belief that even the most functional objects could be made beautiful, but Nieuwenhuis is interested in repetition. The floral motif, repeated over and over, creates a rhythm that is both soothing and slightly hypnotic. Like art, this design shows that functionality and beauty are not mutually exclusive. They can live together.