Genootschapskalender voor 1898 van Arti et Amicitiae 1897

This is the Genootschapskalender voor 1898 van Arti et Amicitiae, made by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel. It's a small printed calendar, made of paper and ink. The visual impact is striking, due to the graphic quality of the Art Nouveau design. The artist's hand is evident in the design, but it was likely transferred to a printing plate for mass production. This brings up interesting questions about labor: The design process, the skilled labor of the engraver, and the factory workers running the printing press. Mass production democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience, while simultaneously changing the nature of artistic work. By considering these elements, we see how this calendar bridges the gap between fine art and commercial design, reflecting the social and economic forces at play in the late 19th century.