Bandontwerp voor een boek gepubliceerd door dr. P. Kieft 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this book cover design in pen and ink. Notice how the composition, while asymmetrical, organizes textual elements within a bold, ornamented border. The script is dynamic, with thick, calligraphic strokes alternating with finer lines. De Vries uses the frame to challenge conventional book design. The linear quality of the grid underneath juxtaposes with the handwritten forms, questioning the mechanization of print. The design presents a semiotic interplay between the traditional craft of calligraphy and the evolving technologies of book production. Observe how the structure destabilizes fixed meanings, inviting a reinterpretation of the book as an art object. The raw, unfinished quality of the sketch further accentuates the idea of art as a continuous process, rather than a static product, emphasizing its engagement with broader cultural dialogues.