Titelhoofd met hanen 1893 - 1894

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this title design with roosters, presumably with woodcut, although it is difficult to tell from this distance. It resides as part of a larger book page in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Dijsselhof was one of the foremost Dutch designers working in the decorative Jugenstil, what was known elsewhere as Art Nouveau. Jugendstil design signaled a challenge to the established academic art world. The movement arose from a desire to create a new aesthetic that rejected industrialization and embraced handcrafted, decorative arts. Looking at this image, one might ask how does it disrupt the traditional hierarchies of art? By elevating what had been considered 'minor' arts, Jugendstil sought to democratize artistic expression and challenge the elitism of fine art institutions. To fully understand Dijsselhof's design, one would need to research the rise of the decorative arts movement and its critique of industrial society. What were the specific political and social aims of the Arts and Crafts movement, and how did Jugendstil participate in that project? The image makes most sense in its cultural and institutional context.