Ontwerpen voor boekbanden en -illustraties voor publicaties van Uitgeversmaatschappij L.J. Veen 1887 - 1970

These 'Ontwerpen voor boekbanden en -illustraties voor publicaties van Uitgeversmaatschappij L.J. Veen' were made with ink on paper by diverse vervaardigers. The marks are so uniform, so consistent - I bet they were made with a stamp. Look closely, and you'll see that each image is a singular gesture, a transfer of ink from the stamp to the page. Consider the texture of the paper and how it receives the ink. The black ink, dense and opaque, sits atop the page, creating a slight relief. Notice the variations in pressure, and how some impressions are darker than others. This physicality invites us to consider the labor involved, the hand that presses, lifts, and repeats. The arrow pointing down at the top left is like a signpost, a little reminder of the importance of where we're headed. It is reminiscent of the work of someone like Agnes Martin - the minimalism, and the use of repetition. Much like how her art plays with grids and lines, these designs remind us that art is a conversation between artists, a constant exchange of ideas across time.