Bandontwerp voor: Dr. M.W. Meijer, De natuurkrachten, 1904 1904

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this design for "The Forces of Nature" in 1904 using graphite, pen and brush, and colored ink. Here, notice the central figure, a woman whose raised arms echo the very arc of the sun, surrounded by snowflake-like motifs. This gesture of raised arms, the "Orans," appears across time, from ancient Minoan figurines to Christian iconography, symbolizing prayer, supplication, and a connection to the divine. The snowflakes, geometrically stylized, remind us of nature's inherent order and the cyclical return of seasons. Consider the persistence of these symbols. The raised arms reflect our primal yearning for connection to something greater, deeply embedded in our collective memory. This image connects us to ancient rituals and beliefs, transcending time. The snowflake, a fleeting marvel, becomes a symbol of enduring natural law. As such, this artwork speaks to the cyclical nature of symbols, forever resurfacing in new forms, echoing through the corridors of time.