Affiche voor de Internationale Gastentoonstelling in Amsterdam 1912

This is Jac Jongert’s poster for the Internationale Gastentoonstelling in Amsterdam made in 1912. It’s a lithograph, so the colours are flat and opaque, but the overall effect is really rich, like a tapestry. I love how Jongert uses this earthy palette of ochre, sage, and terracotta, with this gorgeous peachy flesh tone. It's kind of retro, but also very now. I'm really drawn to the figure of the man holding a globe aloft, while carrying a child. The composition is all about balance and tension, the child reaches for something that feels like a caduceus. He stands with one foot on what looks like a primitive boat. All these details create a really intriguing symbolism, so much here remains ambiguous and open to interpretation. This piece reminds me a little bit of Gustav Klimt, with its flat patterns and decorative elements. Both artists share a love of ornamentation and symbolism, but Jongert's work feels a bit more raw and less refined than Klimt's. It's like looking at a folk version of Art Nouveau, which is something I find really appealing.