Gedenkboek van den historisch allegorischen optocht 1910

This is the cover of a booklet, made in 1910 in Amsterdam by Holbert & Co. It’s for a historical allegorical procession, and it’s got this really charming, decorative vibe. I’m drawn to the muted palette, that soft parchment background with gentle greens and oranges, it reminds me that artmaking is always a process of selection, of saying yes to some things and no to others. Look at the crowns and banners, the way they frame the text. There's such an attention to detail. The choice of those shades of orange for the lettering, those decorative flourishes with oranges and foliage - it’s all so carefully considered, so intentional, and the texture of the paper itself adds to the overall feeling of something precious and handmade. It reminds me a little of some of the Viennese Secession graphics, all that stylized ornamentation. Ultimately, this piece reminds us that art is always in conversation with what came before.