Ontwerp voor een briefhoofd van kleermaker en bontwerker Van der Zee te Hilversum 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this design for the Van der Zee Tailors and Furriers letterhead with pencil on paper. The most striking element is its emphasis on geometric shapes, with triangular and diamond-like forms dominating the composition. The light blue lettering and graphic elements on the off-white paper create a visual hierarchy that draws the eye to the company name and logo. The design's structure can be seen as a semiotic system where the seal image and the crossed needles symbolize the company's specializations. The use of symmetry and clear lines provides a sense of balance, but this is slightly disrupted by the irregular handwritten script. This interplay between formal design and casual handwriting hints at a tension between modernity and tradition, utility and artistry, revealing how graphic design embodies cultural and philosophical values of its time. The design invites us to see graphic design as a site for exploring the relationships between form and function, art and commerce.