Form and content December stamps 2017: depicting or imagining?
The internationally highly regarded MOAM foundation, led by 29-year-old director Martijn Nekoui, promotes top-tier talent development and knowledge expansion among artistic talents. Ten young artistic super-talents across various disciplines (4 illustrators, 4 graphic designers, and 2 photographers) depict Christmas experiences of Dutch celebrities from the television and entertainment world on the recently issued 2017 December stamps. In doing so, they utilize various design techniques, styles, and perspectives.
1) Difference between depicting and imagining
With an image (barrel organ) nvph 1226, flower bulb field nvph 1025 & acquiring knowledge nvph 1690) there is clearly a strong resemblance to reality. Head/eyes and intellect are predominantly involved in seeing and/or looking at the subject, of which an impression is given.
With an imagination (barrel organ) nvph 3173, flower bulb field nvph 2250 & acquiring knowledge nvph 1698) heart and feeling play the leading role. In the depiction of a subject, individual perception and/or experience take center stage. Personal processing, interpretation, approach, and/or expression dominate. A few characteristic elements of the subject are presented simultaneously, simplified, and/or generalized. The Stamp Blog article Barrel organ image next to barrel organ illustration The date of March 16, 2014, features multiple stamps with the contrast between depicting and visualizing.
2) December stamps 2017 images with a story
George Michael and Tim Hofman
On the Christmas card of Jesse Strikwerda Seven people are sitting around a table having Christmas drinks, chatting pleasantly and animatedly. In the background, a drawn and highly simplified line drawing of a Christmas tree with a star on top and garlands is depicted. The entire drawing is enclosed in a glass dome.
Apart from the image of George Michael I immediately asked myself: “Who are the other people around the table on the greeting card?” An email from Strikwerda gave me the answer:
The person in the middle at the top is the image of the presenter. Tim Hoffman from whom Strikwerda received inspiration for his Christmas card.”
Lieke van Lexmond with Zef
On the Lieke van Lexmond stamp and Christmas card by designer Loutje Hoekstra, her mother is (Lieke) and child (2nd son Zef) intimately and tightly connected by means of a single continuous line.
Wendy van Dijk with her loved ones
"Bee Wendy “Her Christmas revolves around the light. Being with family, doing fun things, and being together,” according to the interpretation received via email from Sella MolenaarShe continues: “Because Wendy usually celebrates Christmas abroad, she simply didn't put up a Christmas tree. In my design, I created an alternative version of this universal symbol for Christmas, consisting of a string of lights (in a figurative sense) fitting Wendy's Christmas intention. I carried this theme through on the Christmas card, where Wendy is literally surrounded. Just like during Christmas.” A fragment of Wendy's statement, “I am surrounded by all my loved ones,” could therefore very well suggest that the lights on the Christmas card depict/represent all her loved ones.
René & Natasja Froger
- The main theme of the stamp is a stylized image of a Christmas tree with baubles as a representation of and/or reference to the Christmas season.
- Both hands shaking are a child's hand and a father's hand, representing family and the family bond during the Christmas season.
- The lady's hand with nail polish playing the accordion depicts music and making music.
- Both triangles in the triangular Christmas tree rise to (represent) the Holy Trinity: love, family, and music. Perfection during the Christmas season.
- Various shades of red and pink in the image depict not only love, but also Christmas and the festive Christmas season.
3) December stamps 2017: unity in diversity!
The commonality of the 2017 December stamps lies not only in the placement of the typography and sorting hook, but also in the color scheme. All the images on the stamps refer to the Christmas season in diverse and individual ways. Stamps identical to the greeting cards 
Three stamp images are actually identical to the greeting cards.
Stamps are part of a larger whole on the greeting card
Three stamp images show a part of a larger whole on the greeting card.
Extending lines
Stamps 3 and 6 show, through the tapering lines in the background, part of a much larger whole not depicted on the stamp and card.
Larger part
A stamp image shows a larger part of a stamp image.
White border around sorting hook
Three sorting hooks are an isolated part of the stamp image by a white border, while the remaining sorting hooks on seven stamps are an integrated part of the stamp image.
Background boundary
The image on stamp 2 features an irregularly painted background, while the remaining nine stamps have a rectangular bordered background. It is striking that a drawn black border line has been applied around the rectangular image on stamp 9.
Delicate use of color
The color scheme of two stamps is delicate and muted in the background, while the remaining stamps feature brighter and more vivid colors.
For maximum cards, not only the location of the cancellation must relate to the stamp subject, but also the date of cancellation.
On the 2017 December stamps, the place name Hilversum and the date December 24 underscore this connection perfectly.
Bate, there is something else the maximum card must comply with according to the guideline: the picture postcard must, as far as possible, be for sale before the issuance of the stamp. Or, if it has been specially issued, depict a pre-existing document.