Ontwerp voor de schutbladen van een portefeuille 1884 - 1952

This design for a portfolio cover was made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, likely on paper, sometime in the early 20th century. Look at the way the black lines are so deliberate, creating this almost architectural structure, but softened with these curving, organic shapes. It's like a dance between order and whimsy. See how the green columns act as anchors, but the flowers want to break free, to move around. The grid that sits beneath is a framework, not a cage. It’s like the artist is thinking through the structure, making decisions as they go, but not afraid to let things get a little messy. For me, this piece speaks to the beauty of the unexpected, the messy, the imperfect – that sweet spot where art truly sings. It reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, who also used geometric forms and botanical shapes, although de Vries is more restrained. Art isn't about perfection, it's about the conversation.