Rol met crème zijden satijnlint c. 1925

Here at the Rijksmuseum is a roll of creamy silk satin ribbon by Gustav Schnitzler. I'm thinking about how something so utilitarian can also be so visually appealing. It’s so yummy, all rolled up! I want to unfurl it. I think about the history it contains: where it was made, and by whom, and for what purpose. I wonder if Schnitzler thought of it as a work of art when he made it. The ribbon’s off-white color reminds me of a painter's canvas, pristine and ready to be transformed. It’s almost as if the ribbon is waiting for someone to paint on it. It's funny, the label on the top looks like handwriting. That little bit of text adds so much personality to it. It makes me want to get my hands on it and see how it feels! It's like a conversation across time. I can imagine other artists being inspired by everyday objects. Art is all about seeing the world in new and exciting ways.