Advertenties voor de internationale tentoonstelling van Grafische Kunst te Amsterdam en honingkoek van de firma M. Bol 1913 - 1952

Here are two advertisements that Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made, presumably as a print, for an exhibition of graphic art and, rather wonderfully, for honey cake. I imagine Reinier puzzling over how to make images that are both informative and attractive, and how to reconcile the world of fine art and commercial advertising. He carefully considers the layout, typography, and the relationship between text and image. Look how the Amsterdam coat of arms flanks the words "Internationale Tentoonstelling" to boldly stake a claim for the city as a cultural capital. And in the lower advertisement, how he frames the text with a decorative border, and includes an emblem of a bee to signify the cake's main ingredient. These kinds of design challenges are like the formal problems artists face in their studios, but with the added pressure of selling something. It’s a dance between art and commerce that continues to this day, and one that reminds us of the ever-evolving conversation between artists and designers.