Bandontwerp voor: Louis Couperus, Majesteit, 1893 before 1893

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst created this cover design for Louis Couperus’s novel *Majesteit* in 1893. The design, featuring stylized floral motifs and royal symbols, offers a window into the cultural and political milieu of the Netherlands at the close of the 19th century. Holst, deeply engaged in the socialist movement, frequently explored themes of social justice and the role of the individual within broader societal structures. Here, the symbols of monarchy are juxtaposed with art nouveau style floral elements, perhaps reflecting a tension between traditional authority and emerging aesthetic and political ideals. The inclusion of both regal emblems and organic imagery invites us to consider how power is both asserted and subtly challenged through visual language. As you stand here, consider how Holst uses the book cover as a space to negotiate complex relationships between authority, aesthetics, and individual expression. How might the story inside challenge or support these representations?