Bandontwerpen en een ornament c. 1896 - 1899

Curator: Looking at Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries’s “Bandontwerpen en een ornament” from around 1896-1899, what strikes me immediately is its raw, almost industrial character embedded within its delicate lines and ink on paper. Editor: Yes, the collection of drawings for ornaments and typography is fascinating. I like how they are compiled together on a piece of paper. The hand-drawn aspect is evident. What’s your interpretation of these designs? Curator: Well, if we look at this from a materialist perspective, we can consider how De Vries engages with the burgeoning commercial and printing industries of the late 19th century. Notice how each element, each typeface, is carefully constructed for reproduction. These are designs not just for aesthetic pleasure but intended for labor, for function, and ultimate distribution in society. Editor: That makes sense. So, rather than just appreciating the design itself, we should think about its intended purpose as a reproducible element? Curator: Precisely! Think about the labour involved in creating these designs, preparing them for printing. This artwork straddles that fascinating intersection between artistic craft and mass production. And, what were the prevailing social uses for design and typography at that time? What kind of products were adorned by these motifs? Considering those elements shifts our understanding from passive appreciation to a more engaged social and historical understanding of the object. Editor: That’s a great perspective, focusing on the making process, use, and implications rather than pure aesthetics. I hadn’t thought about the labour involved in preparing those images for distribution. Thanks for this deep insight into the artistic background! Curator: Absolutely. And hopefully, we can view artistic creations from all times considering what tangible forces governed their development!