Acht stroken 18de-eeuws kant geproduceerd in Mechelen, uit de collectie van het Kunstgewerbemuseum in Dresden, Duitsland 1888

This print showcases eight strips of 18th-century lace made in Mechelen, drawn from the Kunstgewerbemuseum collection in Dresden. The anonymous composition, with its emphasis on linearity, is immediately striking. Each strip of lace, rendered in exquisite detail, is presented against a contrasting dark background, enhancing its intricate patterns. The arrangement, almost like specimens in a natural history catalogue, invites a structural analysis. The horizontal orientation and the subtle variations in the lacework suggest a play with repetition and difference, challenging any fixed notion of uniformity. Motifs such as flowers, geometric shapes, and delicate curves recur, yet each strip possesses a unique identity. The work destabilizes our understanding of value, questioning the categories of art, craft and nature. The print functions not just as a visual document, but as a semiotic system where the lace becomes a signifier of elegance, labor, and the complex social dynamics of its time.