Bandontwerp voor: Ine van Etten, Idylle in de archipel, c. 1940 before 1945

Hans Borrebach created this cover design, "Idylle in de archipel," around 1940 for a novel by Ine van Etten. The work is evocative of its time, a period marked by increasing tensions of world war. Borrebach's design features a European couple against an exoticized backdrop of palm trees and pyramids, a romanticized vision of escapism. The woman, with her gaze directed upwards and a delicate hand gesture, is portrayed in a traditionally submissive pose, while the man, sharply dressed, embodies a sense of control. This depiction reflects the gender dynamics prevalent in the literature and visual culture of the era. The title, suggesting an “Idyll in the Archipelago,” hints at a narrative set in a distant, perhaps colonized, land, feeding into the allure of the exotic that was marketed to Western audiences. This book cover not only served as a visual gateway to the story, but also perpetuated the cultural and gender norms of its time. It invites us to consider the ways in which such images have shaped, and continue to shape, our perceptions of identity and place.