Boekontwerp voor: 'Gijsbrecht van Aemstel' van Joost van den Vondel c. 1893 - 1901

This is a book design made by Antoon Derkinderen, likely around the turn of the 20th century, for “Gijsbrecht van Aemstel” by Joost van den Vondel. Derkinderen was deeply engaged in the revival of Dutch national identity. We can see it in his turn to historical subjects, which connect to the play’s own setting in medieval Amsterdam. The page features lettering within a frame, along with decorative motifs. These point toward Derkinderen’s broader interest in the applied arts, which were seen at the time as a vehicle for expressing national character. The revival of interest in national traditions was part of a broader, Europe-wide phenomenon. Artists and intellectuals sought to define a unique cultural identity. These visual codes and references carry symbolic weight, reflecting cultural and historical associations. To understand this artwork better, it's helpful to delve into the world of Dutch literary and artistic societies of the late 19th century. By doing so, we see art as a product of its time, deeply entwined with social and institutional contexts.