Ontwerpen voor de initialen B, E, H, T, V, W 1884 - 1952

These designs for initials, B, E, H, T, V, W, were made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, but we don't know when. I love how the crisp black ink defines each letter. They’re blocky, stylized, and each set within a square like individual little stages. I can imagine the artist, sitting at their desk, carefully inking in these ornate forms. The repetition of the square acts like a frame, but there's a tension between the geometric rigidity and the organic, almost floral motifs within. You can see the planning stages in the background in the ghost of the graph paper, which adds another layer to the design. Each letter feels like a miniature world, a little puzzle of shape and line. This drawing reminds me of Hilma af Klint’s work and other artists who use geometric abstraction to explore symbolic forms. Thinking about symbols makes me think about the artist's thought process and how to approach the work itself. These initials show how we are all connected through our art across time.