Bloemencorsospel 1898

This "Bloemencorsospel," or flower parade game, was designed by N. Veenstra in the Netherlands. Immediately, the gameboard layout strikes the eye, with its numbered squares and central image of a flower parade. The composition is divided into two distinct zones: the perimeter of numbered tiles and the detailed central scene. Each numbered square contains illustrations of participants and floats from the flower parade that invite us to consider a semiotic system of signs, where each image functions as a symbol of Dutch spectacle and festivity. The central image provides a focal point, a carefully constructed representation of the parade itself, complete with spectators and ornate floats. We can see how Veenstra has destabilized the traditional role of games by embedding them with cultural values. The game does more than entertain; it reinforces cultural identity and commemorates specific historical and cultural events. Note the tension between the rigid structure of the gameboard and the fluid, organic forms within the central image, highlighting the artwork’s ability to exist as both a functional object and a complex cultural artifact.