Omslagontwerp voor: Maandblad der Vereeniging voor verbetering van vrouwenkleeding, c. 1901-1909 c. 1901 - 1909

This is the cover design for Maandblad der Vereeniging voor verbetering van vrouwenkleeding, made sometime between 1901-1909 by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries. Look at this stark contrast of black and white; it’s all about these stylized women and the Art Nouveau vibe, right? I imagine de Vries sitting there, pen in hand, carefully inking each line, trying to capture that early 20th-century elegance. He’s thinking about what women want, what they aspire to, what they wear. He's trying to catch the spirit of the age. I love the way the white pops against the black, creating a sense of depth. The composition is so balanced, yet there’s this underlying tension—a push and pull between tradition and modernity. De Vries was probably looking at Japanese prints, or maybe even Aubrey Beardsley, trying to absorb those influences and make something new. It's all part of this ongoing conversation artists have, across time and place, influencing and inspiring each other.