Bandontwerp voor: Carmen Sylva en Mite Kremnitz, Veldpost, 1899 before 1899

Curator: Looking at this design, what catches your eye first? For me, it's the lettering— so strong and stylish. Editor: The scene itself. I’m immediately transported to the foot of the mountains. The light feels muted and misty. There’s almost a fairytale quality about it, as if something magical could occur at any moment, like in a Germanic myth, Wagnerian. Curator: It really does have that Brothers Grimm feel! You’re looking at Willem Wenckebach’s bandontwerp – that’s “cover design” – voor "Carmen Sylva en Mite Kremnitz, Veldpost", created before 1899. This stunning ink drawing on paper resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: I wonder, why frame this majestic scene with such ornate art nouveau borders? Curator: Good question! This elaborate framing actually complements the subject. Notice the carefully constructed composition. The dense forest, the mountain peaks, the tiny house peeking through the foliage—all balanced. Then, these floral borders almost amplify a sense of wild romanticism—it's controlled, though. There are also some interesting choices, like the mountain. Vertical striations emphasize its verticality but does little to sculpt its form, while other elements in the landscapes are incredibly dense with ink to illustrate shade and shadow. Editor: So it serves to heighten the sense of fantasy… perhaps this juxtaposition is what gives it its power. The very meticulousness of the ink work, particularly in the borders, makes one appreciate the grandeur it enfolds. Curator: Precisely. Wenckebach’s craft reminds me a bit of Aubrey Beardsley, though Wenckebach injects it with this distinctly Dutch landscape element. One wonders, who were Carmen Sylva and Mite Kremnitz, and what tales fill their 'Veldpost'? Editor: Whoever they were, Wenckebach captured them perfectly! It would be delightful to wander in that wood in front of that mysterious, misty mountain range... What an intriguing blend of artistic influences! Curator: Exactly!