Omslagontwerp voor: De dierenvriend. Geïllustreerd tijdschrift voor dierenvrienden, 1907 1907

This cover design for "The Animal Friend," made in 1907 by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, presents a world seen through the lens of early 20th-century animal advocacy. Rendered in stark black ink, the composition is neatly divided, which creates a balanced yet dynamic tension. At the top, we see horses symmetrically placed around a fountain, suggesting harmony between animals and their environment. Below, this harmony is echoed with two more horses facing each other, perhaps in silent communication. The use of line and form simplifies the animals to near-abstract shapes. Vries seems to engage with a structuralist approach, portraying animals not just as creatures but as signifiers within a larger system of meaning. The cover destabilizes a traditional hierarchy, inviting a rethinking of human-animal relations. The visual rhythm and formal balance underscore a call for empathy.