Vignetten van Uitgeversmaatschappij L.J. Veen 1866 - 1939

Here we see four versions of a bookplate, likely made with woodcut or linocut. I can imagine the anonymous artist carefully carving away at the block, a meditation on labor itself. Each version uses a limited palette: black and red, with variations that create different moods. The black feels stark and serious, while the red has a kind of revolutionary fervor. What was the artist thinking when deciding which colorways to experiment with? The central image of the triangle containing what appears to be a classical facade is intriguing. There's a sense of mystery, perhaps about the labor of the mind or the publishing industry itself. It reminds me of similar kinds of graphic experiments and emblemata that were circulating at the time. Artists are always borrowing and building upon each other’s ideas. Whether through graphic design or painting, we’re all trying to make something new out of what's come before, finding our own voice in the chorus.