Bandontwerp voor: Hans Borrebach, Lony zegt de huur op. Roman voor oudere meisjes, 1954 before 1954

In 1954, Hans Borrebach designed this book cover; its linear design is quite striking, isn't it? I imagine Borrebach hunched over his drawing board, carefully inking each line. There's an interesting tension between the implied depth of the parallel lines on either side and the flattened picture plane of the central image. The brushes feel both representational and abstract, poised between their functional identity as tools and their aesthetic value as compositional elements. The lines almost vibrate, don’t they? That’s a gesture, a decision to create that graphic, almost op-art effect. You can feel the artist's hand, the intention behind each stroke. In a way, it reminds me of Constructivist posters, with its clean lines and bold typography. It speaks to a specific moment in graphic design history but also hints at the timeless appeal of abstraction. Artists are always in conversation with one another across time, taking up, and transforming ideas. And that’s what makes looking at art so exciting—it’s not about finding one “right” answer, but about embracing the ambiguity and allowing for multiple interpretations.