Lint in papierband, lichtbruin aan beide zijden rose afgebiesd c. 1890 - 1935

This ribbon in light brown with a rose-edged trim was made by Gustav Schnitzler, though we don't know exactly when. You know, when I look at this, I imagine the factory, the repetition, the rhythm of its making. I think about the quiet industry, where each action builds upon the last. It’s like painting, in a way. Think of Agnes Martin and the meditative quality of her grids, or the repetitive mark-making in the paintings of Roman Opalka. The texture is what gets me here – the tactile quality of the weave, the slight sheen of the rose edging. You can almost feel the material between your fingers, the slight give as it unrolls. The way the light catches those edges is what gives it depth, a gentle suggestion of space and form. I feel like that’s why I’m an artist: to be in conversation with all these makers. Each one leaves a trace and we, in turn, respond, interpret, and create something new. It's a beautiful chain of influence and inspiration, where the humblest object can spark the grandest ideas.