Decoratief kader met naam van de Vereniging ter Bevordering van de Belangen des Boekhandels 1884 - 1952

Curator: Look at this, it is a decorative frame from 1884 to 1952 designed by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries. It uses ink and drawing, demonstrating Art Nouveau styles. Quite intriguing! What's your first reaction to it? Editor: It reminds me of old illuminated manuscripts, those decorative letters at the start of chapters, full of flourishes. Curator: The artist used geometric forms with delicate lines to make an aesthetic frame, likely purposed for the 'Association for the Promotion of the Interests of Booksellers', if I am not mistaken in translation. Consider its utility in marketing the world of books. Editor: Yes, the framework is lovely! The gold inlays against the red swirls and ink create this playful contrast of wealth against labor, like gilding the tools of thought. I imagine it holding a portrait, maybe the founder, or it could have framed a mission statement. Curator: It bridges graphic design with commercial need, highlighting the cultural significance of bookselling in society at that time. The work's survival suggests a reverence for this particular guild and its craft. Editor: Precisely! It tells a material story, really, of the very tangible worth we assigned to print culture then. Almost feels like a relic. Curator: Seeing that these were crafted within the rise of industrial printing makes it especially evocative. To hold the fine details produced during major shifts in accessibility. Editor: You are right! Overall, a captivating snapshot of how a group imagined itself and presented their place within the commercial space. Curator: Indeed. It serves as both a historical marker and a display of aesthetic principles blending craft and commerce in its age. Editor: Absolutely. A testament to books, design, and the business of both!