Katrien Annys is the graphic designer behind jacquesbooks, with a passion for handmade and oldschool items and for thinking out of the box.

A few years ago, she took a bookbinding course and visited an exposition at that time. She was inspired to form a carrier for art out of leftover paper.

It reminded her of the way her father, an amateur photographer, showed his work on mdf wood, as a practical way to hang art while still letting it take the lead.

Katrien also makes high quality notebooks with remarkable pocket covers, just saying.

At the bookbinding course, Katrien met Nancy & Petra, who went on to start a manual bookbindery, Boekgebonden.

Katrien regularly pops into their cosy workshop to use the machinery and exchange knowledge.

Her idea for the Plakkaat was tested here, with the experience of three women, multiple setbacks and "aha" moments. How to prevent the plate from curving? What is the maximum workable size, or the ideal pressing and drying time? And how to enhance art on top?

They stick to classical bookbinding techniques and work as ecological and economical as possible, using leftover paper.

Katrien and I work in the same building and one day, in her stylish office full of vintage furniture and quirky objects, I saw a Plakkaat.

It was hanging close to her office door, flat onto the wall, being the most simple, uncomplicated way to show the picture on there.

She started telling the story of how she created it. I was captivated by the amount of thought and consideration that had gone into it, and how humble and ostentably simple it was hanging there.

Katrien had tried selling the Plakkaat in a gift store, but by lack of time, it hadn't hit off yet. It wasn't by lack of potential, is what we agreed upon.

At the end of 2019, some 6 months into Quiet Company's existence, I launched an open call. Sophie Doutreligne was interested, and when I saw her paintings, they were exactly what I didn't know I was looking for.

I visited her at home and had a Plakkaat with me, which I was showing to all artists I met with. Sophie had been looking for an out of the box-way to show her art, and was very enthousiastic. She selected paper in colors to match her art, and we all visited the Boekgebonden workshop.

We looked for the highest quality print to match the feeling from the original paintings. And we found it.

The prints were ready and carefully attached to each Plakkaat. The holes were drilled for hanging them so nicely on the wall. The cardboard pieces were cut to cover them in transport. The photo shoot was planned. And then, a certain virus took over the world's stage.

But here we are now: ready to show the world this product of female ingenuity and persistence. With all the flagrant intimacy to knock your social distancing muscle memory out of the woods.