Ontwerp voor drie ramen in het Stadhuis te Amsterdam 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this design for three windows in Amsterdam’s Town Hall at an unknown date with an unknown medium, but likely watercolor on paper. The way he's put together these blocky shapes really tickles me. See how the blues and grays in the side panels almost look like figures stacked on top of each other? It's like he's playing with this tension between abstraction and figuration, which is exactly what I try to do in my own work. Looking closer, you can see the bleeding edges of the colors. It’s not precise, and I like that. It's got a real looseness to it, suggesting the hand of the artist. Check out that central panel, how he's used these earth tones to create depth and shadow. It's not just about telling a story, it's about creating an experience. Holst reminds me a bit of Gustav Klimt, in the way he uses decorative elements to enhance the emotional impact of his work. It really makes you think about the role of craft, and of design, in creating a sense of meaning and connection.