Ontwerpen voor randdecoratie en tekst van een oorkonde voor J.W. Enschedé 1915

This is a design for a certificate by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries. Look at those delicate lines and flourishes rendered in graphite on paper! It feels like the artist worked painstakingly. Imagine De Vries hunched over a desk, surrounded by pencils, erasers, and various drafts. Maybe he started with a vague idea, a feeling about the importance of honoring J.W. Enschedé, then slowly teased out the details. He might have been thinking about the weight of tradition, the importance of craftsmanship, and how to visually represent these ideas. I wonder if De Vries ever felt stuck, unsure how to proceed? Did he ever crumple up a drawing in frustration, only to smooth it out later and find a new direction? The design reminds me of illuminated manuscripts. Artists are always in conversation, referencing each other, building on what came before. It’s a reminder that art is never created in a vacuum, but rather emerges from a rich tapestry of influences and inspirations.