Prikking voor het maken van een deel van een kraag van naaldkant c. 1915s

This work, by a Belgian internee from Village Elisabeth, Amersfoort, presents a preparatory pricking pattern for needle lace. The composition is a study in contrasts, where geometric precision meets organic fluidity. Observe the pattern's architecture: a network of radial lines anchored by small circles creates a structured ground, reminiscent of a spiderweb. Atop this rigid framework lies a series of curvilinear forms, suggesting floral or foliate motifs, their sinuous lines echoing the Art Nouveau aesthetic. The juxtaposition of these elements invites a semiotic reading—a dialogue between constraint and freedom, order and chaos. The pattern doesn’t merely dictate form; it proposes a structure through which the lace maker might negotiate the space between intention and improvisation. Consider how the artist employed line not just as outline but as a means of spatial articulation, suggesting depth and volume through strategic intersections and varying densities. This pattern, therefore, is not just a technical blueprint, but a conceptual framework that challenges fixed notions of design, inviting ongoing interpretation through the maker's hand and the viewer's eye.