Datumblad voor een album voor Dr. H.C. Rogge 1900

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries created this delicate watercolor drawing, "Datumblad voor een album voor Dr. H.C. Rogge." At first glance, you see the subtle color palette and symmetrical design, creating a balanced yet decorative form. The composition centers around a stylized emblem featuring key dates, rendered in earth tones and soft blues, evoking a sense of historical significance. The symmetrical arrangement suggests a formal approach, typical of Art Nouveau, where natural forms are translated into ornamental patterns. De Vries' careful attention to line and form reflects a period grappling with how to represent time and history. Here, time isn’t just linear but cyclical, marked by recurring dates celebrated within a family or institution. By combining date and abstract floral motifs, De Vries challenges traditional notions of portraiture, prompting us to consider how personal identity and commemoration can be abstracted into patterns and symbols.