Boekband voor: Rob S. Ball, Het ontstaan der aarde, 1902 1902

This book cover for ‘The Origin of the Earth’ was made in 1902 by an anonymous artist, and right away I want to know more about who made it. Look at this limited palette; the way the red pops against the pale linen and black, it's so direct and declarative. I’m drawn to the image of the Earth, a globe really, hovering in a starburst. The rendering is simple but evocative, using just a few lines to suggest continents and oceans. The lines of the starburst are thick and confident, like the artist knew exactly what they wanted to convey. You can almost feel the pressure of the tool as it pressed into the block, leaving a clear, decisive mark. The typography is integrated into the design, with the letters bold and stylized. This cover reminds me a little of the work of woodcut artists like Franz Masereel, who also used bold, graphic imagery to convey strong emotions. Both embrace a certain level of abstraction, focusing on essential forms.