Ornamentele rand met bladmotieven 1900 - 1924

This ornamented title page for "Our Century" was designed by Willem Karel Rees, probably as a woodcut print. The brown ink feels like it’s been laid down with graphic intent, but then softened with a slight bleed. What strikes me is how the leaves are rendered with such a deep, solid tone, as if each one is a carefully considered block. Look at the leaf shapes, how the negative space is as important as the leaves themselves, creating a dynamic rhythm. There's a real push-pull, a sense of tension in the way these graphic elements come together. It reminds me of the work of Aubrey Beardsley, another graphic artist who wasn't afraid to mix organic forms with a structured design. This kind of pattern making isn’t just decoration, it’s a way of seeing, and perhaps a way of knowing.