Sjabloon: ornamentale vlakvulling in een cirkel 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this stencil, 'Ornamental Surface Decoration in a Circle,' with pencil and brush. It is all about shape. Imagine Nieuwenhuis patiently cutting away at this stencil. How did he decide what to keep and what to let go? I feel the pull between the positive and negative space. It’s like a dance between presence and absence. The floral pattern in the center is dense and compact, and as you move outward, the design becomes more diffuse. What a great compositional strategy for an artist to explore ideas and methods. The dark lines on the perimeter that seem to contain the pattern create a frame within the frame. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint, with its symbolism. These artists are constantly teaching us how to look, how to see, and how to feel.