Ontwerp voor een tapijt c. 1854 - 1864

This is a design for a carpet, likely from the 18th or 19th century, made with watercolor and ink on paper. Its intricate patterns, rendered in rich, saturated colors, offer a glimpse into the laborious process of carpet making. Each knot in a hand-knotted carpet represents a deliberate act, and designs like these would have been meticulously translated into the final woven form. The use of watercolor allows us to appreciate the qualities of the dyes which would have been used for the original textile. The design's formalism reminds us of the cultural significance of carpet weaving, particularly in Islamic societies. The question of authorship also comes to the fore. Though the name of the artist is unknown, the work’s graphic qualities point to a close dialogue between design and manufacture, where artistic vision meets skilled handwork. In that spirit, let's consider this design not just as a preliminary sketch, but as a testament to the collaborative spirit inherent in craft traditions.