Getal 34 1904

This small design of the number 34 was rendered on paper by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries. Look closely, and you will see the rhythmic interplay of black and white, a dance of positive and negative space, where each form defines the other. The texture seems smooth, with precise lines, and the paint appears opaque, allowing the artist to build a graphic composition with flat blocks of color. There is a hypnotic quality to the number 3; its sinuous curves are echoed in the surrounding decorative flourishes. It could be Art Nouveau or the Viennese Secession. The leaves all in a row, like so many marching ducklings! Thinking about this piece, I’m reminded of Hilma af Klint, who also created symbolic, patterned works, diving deep into the mysteries of form. Art, in its best moments, is always that kind of conversation, echoing across time. It encourages us to see with fresh eyes, finding beauty in the unexpected.