Vlakversiering met lijnen, driehoeken en ruiten 1889

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this drawing, “Vlakversiering met lijnen, driehoeken en ruiten”, using ink and graphite on paper. The nature of these materials gives the artwork a precise and graphic quality, emphasizing the geometric forms and patterns. This work reflects the social context of early 20th-century design, when artists and designers were exploring abstraction and pattern as a response to industrialization. The artist meticulously renders interlocking shapes in red, black, white, blue, and yellow, showcasing the skilled traditions of geometric drawing and design. Each shape and line is carefully placed, emphasizing the importance of precision and craftsmanship. By focusing on these basic geometric forms, de Vries elevates the act of drawing to a level of refinement, blurring the lines between fine art and applied design, while highlighting the potential for beauty and order within simple, repetitive forms.