Wendingen: Het nieuw Rijksacademiegebouw

Wendingen (which apparently translates to “twists and turns”) was a Dutch architecture and art magazine. Each issue was devoted to a specific theme—and this one was all about Jan Duiker and Bernard Bijvoet’s award-winning design for a new State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. After their designs were selected in 1917, the budget was cut and their building never built. That’s too bad as it looked amazing. The renderings and models are stunning. Now, one more thing to know: All of the display and ornamental matter throughout were printed from type-high rules. Hendrikus Th. Wijdeveld was creating letters and shapes from just straight lines (essentially) found in the print shop. Actually, “found” might be an overstatement. He were clearly constructing and cutting rules to size. It’s a remarkable feat and shows what kind of letters can be made with the most extreme, self-imposed limitations. Also, this issue is loaded with advertisements for goods and services that are no longer relevant. But the lettering! This is worth it just for the ads. No joke.