Wereld der Kunsten - 7 1891 - 1896

This unassuming book cover, titled Wereld der Kunsten - 7, presents us with a series of vertical red lines against a pale background. But even these simple lines, produced by diverse makers, speak volumes if we listen closely. Stripes, a motif as old as civilization itself, have carried varied and often contradictory meanings. In medieval times, the stigma of the stripe was such that it marked the clothing of social outcasts: criminals, prostitutes, and even clowns. Think of the harlequin, whose checkered or striped suit signaled his liminal status, forever on the edge of society. Yet, in other contexts, stripes symbolize order, rank, and authority, as seen in military uniforms and heraldic banners. The red and white stripes here might evoke the subconscious memory of barber poles, symbols that once advertised not just haircuts, but surgical procedures too, a potent mix of vanity and bodily vulnerability. It's a reminder that even the most straightforward visual elements are laden with history and emotion. Just as dreams condense complex feelings into simple images, this pattern offers us a glimpse into the endless echoes of cultural memory.