Bandontwerp met een hoofdletter R 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this design for the letter 'R' with pencil and watercolour. Look at how the red of the letter pops against the restrained and earthy palette; it’s like a key, unlocking the whole composition. I imagine De Vries hunched over his desk, carefully outlining the ‘R’ with a fine brush, building up the colour in layers. I bet he was inspired by illuminated manuscripts or the intricate details of Art Nouveau. The way he framed the letter with those symmetrical, plant-like forms makes me think he loved natural forms. It's kinda got the sensibilities of someone like Hilma af Klint but working to serve a functional purpose. De Vries' drawing reminds me how artists are always borrowing and transforming ideas from each other, across time and place. Painting is an ongoing conversation, an exploration. It embraces ambiguity and is uncertain. It opens up a space of imagination around the artwork, allowing for multiple interpretations.