Geboortekaartje van Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries 1907

Here is the birth announcement card by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, made around 1907. Imagine the soft grey ink being pressed onto the card, marking the arrival of a new life with gentle formality. You can see the careful lettering and little flourishes, it's like a quiet dance of design. What was he thinking, this new father, as he designed this card? Did he feel the weight of tradition, or the urge to break free? Maybe he was inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, swirling in its celebration of new life, or perhaps he was simply trying to create something beautiful and lasting for his son. It's all very thoughtful, just like any gesture in paint is a trace of someone's body, mind, and heart. It makes you consider how artists are always in conversation with each other, across time, each adding their own little twist to the ongoing story of art. It’s not about fixed meanings, but embracing the ambiguity and letting the work speak in its own way.