Zomer editie 1906

Editor: This is "Zomer editie," from 1906, by Kajita Hanko, it’s a graphic art piece, a collage and a print. It looks very decorative, almost like something you’d see on an old book cover. The peacock motif feels really emblematic of the Art Nouveau style. What catches your eye when you look at this work? Curator: Oh, this takes me back! It’s more than just a pretty picture, isn't it? Think about what the peacock represented at the time. Status, beauty, even a touch of the decadent. The turn of the century was wild, and this piece seems to whisper secrets from that era. Don't you think there’s a dialogue between the flat, almost block-printed style and the very ornate subject matter? It’s almost… tongue-in-cheek. Editor: That's a neat take! I was so focused on the surface beauty I hadn't considered any underlying irony. Are those symbols above the peacock connected to that idea too? Curator: Potentially. Consider the graphic nature. Symbols, emblems, rebuses – were enormously fashionable, think advertising, bookplates, even personal stationery. They gave off a sense of refined intelligence, like belonging to an exclusive club. They also hint at another layer – that pursuit of deeper meaning was essential to art. What else are we missing if we're only at the surface level? Editor: It’s funny how something seemingly simple can contain so much! It definitely makes you think differently about decorative arts from this time. Curator: Absolutely! It shows how even so called decorative art can echo so many fascinating reflections from society!