Tafel met rond tafelblad met wanden die eindigen in gebeeldhouwde maskers c. 1921

This round table with sculpted masks was made by Wim Schuhmacher, though its exact date of creation is unknown. Schuhmacher, working in the Netherlands, navigated a rapidly changing world, marked by both world wars and significant shifts in artistic expression. The table’s design, with its dark wood and geometric form, echoes the functionalist aesthetics of the early 20th century, which sought to integrate art into everyday life. Schuhmacher was a painter, graphic artist, and muralist, and his work engages with the themes of labor and leisure. This table seems to reflect an effort to bring the artistic and the practical together. It represents a desire to transform familiar objects into more evocative forms. The sculpted masks add an element of intrigue, perhaps suggesting the hidden faces or social roles we all inhabit. The table’s presence invites us to consider how even the simplest objects can carry layers of meaning, reflecting both personal expression and broader cultural values.