Sierstuk voor een avondmantel van gemengde kant met rozenhaag 1915

This lace trim, for an evening mantle with rose hedge, was made by Martha Berkers, and its creation must have been a painstaking process, knot by knot, loop by loop, to conjure these delicate and intricate forms. What I love about this kind of work is its pure materiality; the way the texture and layering of the lace creates a tactile presence, how the careful arrangement of the weave brings this floral motif to life. Look closely and you’ll see the subtle tonal variations, the way light filters through the openwork, casting shadows that dance and shift with your perspective. And consider how the artist’s hand shapes each element, the tension and release of the thread, the precise placement of every stitch. This piece reminds me of the work of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, with it’s dedication to craft and the creation of complex forms from simple repeated shapes. The combination of precision and playfulness speaks to the endless possibilities of artmaking as a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and techniques.