Ontwerp voor textiel 1719

This is Alexander Senegat's "Ontwerp voor textiel," a design for textiles created around 1719 in Amsterdam. The intricate patterns, rendered in stark black ink on a light background, draw us into a world of ornate detail. The eye is met with dense flora and decorative flourishes, a composition that merges nature with artifice. The design uses a structured, almost symmetrical arrangement, with a central motif around which floral elements spiral and unfurl. Lines vary from delicate tendrils to bold outlines, creating a rich textural contrast, with the overall effect oscillating between the organic and the geometric. The artist plays with positive and negative space to create depth and complexity. It's clear Senegat was working within established cultural codes, perhaps reflecting the era's fascination with the natural world, filtered through a lens of formal aesthetic principles. This design is not just a pattern; it's a carefully constructed system of signs and symbols, inviting ongoing interpretation.