Dankbetuiging van Adrianus Hermanus Schelling 1936

Curator: Here we have "Dankbetuiging van Adrianus Hermanus Schelling," a print dating back to 1936. Editor: Striking! A minimalist tango of red and white, geometric with what appears to be typography. My gut feeling? Warmth, simplicity, and something... designed, absolutely intended. Curator: Indeed. This work utilizes graphic art principles and typography. We know it's a piece intended as an "expression of gratitude." Editor: Ah! Dank translates as thank. This little square packs such a punch of quiet design. It almost has a logo quality—that quirky mirrored 'H' reminds me of a monogram. Curator: Which may very well have been the intention! Art Deco design often embraced abstraction and geometry. Given that this was designed to convey gratitude from an individual, Adrianus Hermanus Schelling, we can infer it was probably for distribution. A personalized memento? Editor: Personalized everything, it almost could feel like a lettermark or sigil, standing in for a whole identity. It is so perfectly poised between "Art Deco" and the feeling of pared-down design. There’s a certain timelessness here. Curator: The fascinating interplay between abstract shapes and clear intention marks its impact. A physical object, but almost a message or a token of appreciation—certainly a design far beyond that. Editor: And isn't that fascinating? A graphic saying "thank you". You imagine it appearing next to a hand-written card, somehow making it even more heartfelt. Such direct forms for gratitude can really go into new artful approaches. Curator: Its purpose allows the study of how visual imagery carries specific messages through certain historical lenses, and reveals how individuals engaged within these political moments sought to express meaning. Editor: That little square whispers stories about history and expression, it now also reminds one how many layers a work can entail—all because of simplicity.