Ontwerpen voor een logo voor Uitgeversmaatschappij De Hooge Brug c. 1925

Editor: Here we have “Designs for a logo for Uitgeversmaatschappij De Hooge Brug,” from around 1925, by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, made using graphite on paper. It seems to be a page of sketches with a few variations of a bridge design, and it’s surrounded by all sorts of hand-written notes. I’m struck by how geometric and stylized the bridge images are. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Well, it’s interesting to see design work presented in such a raw, almost utilitarian fashion. Look at the grid lines showing through the sketches, almost as if functionality and mathematical accuracy take center stage, rather than any sense of aesthetic embellishment. I think this reveals the societal values of the time period. Editor: How so? Curator: Consider that this logo design emerged during a period of significant rebuilding and societal restructuring after the First World War. The need for efficiency and practicality was paramount, especially in commercial ventures. So, this straight-forward logo design becomes part of a larger, more utilitarian sensibility shaping public imagery and branding during that time. How do you feel the artist balances commercial need with artistry? Editor: That's a really great point. I hadn’t considered the post-war context like that. I guess the artistry is perhaps sublimated in favor of clear communication, suggesting the publishing house, "De Hooge Brug" – the high bridge – is dependable and structurally sound. Curator: Exactly! The bridge symbolizes connection and passage, qualities valuable to a publishing house. The deliberate use of geometry conveys stability and order, reinforcing this message, something potentially reassuring in an era of rapid change. Editor: I never thought about a logo carrying so much historical and social weight! I'll definitely look at these design sketches with new eyes now. Curator: It’s amazing what we can unearth when we explore the layers beneath the surface, right?