Bandontwerp met man met fiets en badmintonspelers 1880 - 1928

This band design by Johann Georg van Caspel shows us a man with a bicycle, badminton players, and other figures in what appears to be a public park. It has been made with graphic precision and a charming naivety that I personally adore. I can imagine Van Caspel, a man designing patterns, in his studio playing around with shapes and images, trying to capture a scene, but also make something decorative. The different planes of space create a play between foreground and background. The dog just hanging around is also a nice addition. The man with the bicycle is in a kind of dialogue with the women playing badminton. Maybe there’s something romantic going on here. It feels like the scene is animated with a certain kind of possibility. This artwork reminds me of the work of other painters, maybe even Bonnard, but with an added graphic awareness that gives it a unique, quirky energy. It's proof that artists are always in conversation, borrowing, and riffing off one another. Painting is a form of expression that allows ambiguity and embraces multiple interpretations.