Geboortekaartje van Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries 1907

This announcement of Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries's birth, made in 1907, is a lesson in muted tones and careful design. The cool grey ink on the card speaks to the formality of the occasion. I like the way the text is framed by decorative motifs. Those little spirals remind me of the Art Nouveau movement, all about organic forms, and maybe also about the mysteries of new life. It's also interesting to see how the text itself becomes part of the visual composition. The letterforms are clean and simple. The design seems so balanced, and it's that balance that keeps me looking. It reminds me that artmaking is always a process of give and take. Like when I’m painting, I'm constantly adjusting, trying to find that sweet spot where everything just feels right. Thinking about other artists who worked with text and image, I think of someone like Ed Ruscha, who also understood the power of simple typography. Art is a conversation, and this little card is a quiet but eloquent contribution.