Blanco handtekeningenblad met pelikanen 1884 - 1952

This is Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries’s blank title page with pelicans. De Vries was working at a time in the Netherlands when artists looked to nature as a source of national pride and inspiration. Consider this design in light of the social and political currents of the early 20th century. Pelicans, often seen as symbols of charity and sacrifice, are rendered here with an elegant stylization typical of the Art Nouveau movement. The choice of this motif may reflect a desire to evoke feelings of compassion. The blank spaces themselves invite participation and perhaps reflect the participatory, democratic ideals gaining traction at the time. De Vries's design exists in the space between the ornamental and the functional, and prompts us to reflect on how beauty can be integrated into even the most mundane aspects of our lives.