Advertenties van Delftsche Plateelbakkerij De Porseleinen Kruik en City-Magazijn Amsterdam 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made these adverts for Delftsche Plateelbakkerij and City-Magazijn, but the materials aren't specified. I love the muted palette; the colors feel so grounded and honest. The layout and the use of ornament give an insight into the creative process. It’s all about balance and hierarchy, making a design that's both functional and visually appealing. I’m drawn to the border around the Delftsche Plateelbakkerij advert - all those tiny decorative motifs, lined up like little soldiers, create a feeling of gentle energy. These adverts are interesting because they’re so different from what we see today. There's a handmade quality to them that feels really special, a reminder of a time when even advertising had a personal touch. You can see this in the work of other artists and designers of the period, like Hendrik Werkman or Bart van der Leck. All of them celebrate the imperfect and the human.