Hare Majesteit en het Nederlandsche Volk gedurende de 40 regeeringsjaren 1938

This print celebrating Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands’ 40-year reign was created in 1938 by the Haagsche Drukkerij en Uitgeversmaatschappij. It’s like a simple graphic poem, with its limited palette and focus on typography. The orange paper provides a warm, textured ground, kind of like a muted, earthy paint color. Then, look at how the black lettering is layered on top. The ink isn’t particularly thick or glossy; it sits almost matte on the page, emphasizing the graphic quality. Notice how the letters themselves have a gentle curve, a flowing, elegant line that contrasts with the rectangular format. That tension, between the overall structure and the fluid script, is what makes it so dynamic. I am reminded of Corita Kent, the pop art nun who combined text and graphic design in her screenprints. Like Kent's work, this print treats language as both message and image. Both share a sensitivity to the materials and a dedication to the power of visual communication. Ultimately, that’s what good art is about: a conversation, a dialogue across time and space.