Franje van zijde, zwart, op karton c. 1920

Curator: So, here we have a small, intriguing object titled “Franje van zijde, zwart, op karton,” which translates to "Silk Fringe, Black, on Cardboard." It's attributed to Gustav Schnitzler and dates to around 1920. Editor: Oh, that's striking! It's almost gothic, this little swatch. All that heavy, black fringe tumbling down. It makes me think of mourning veils, or maybe the hem of a flapper dress dancing in a smoky club. Curator: That contrast between grief and exuberance is interesting. Schnitzler, though not widely known now, played with textiles, using the discipline as mixed media. It’s more than just a decorative fragment; it feels like a statement on texture and form, mounted almost like a specimen. Editor: Exactly. The cardboard backing… it’s so utilitarian, a stark contrast to the luxurious silk. You know, seeing how the fringe is constructed, you start thinking about the hours, maybe days, someone put into weaving that lattice structure, knotting each individual tassel. Where was this piece created, do you know? Curator: We don't know specifics, but the period in which this piece was created witnessed the explosion of industrial production methods alongside this reverence for traditional techniques. This tension is captured wonderfully, I believe, with a traditional material glued to an industrially produced backing. The dark color certainly is foreboding in the context of postwar anxieties about the state of things, Editor: Yes, that dark hue. But silk… it’s never just dour, is it? It’s always got a sheen, a whisper of light trapped in the threads. It’s beautiful because it carries all of these contradictions, this play of light and dark. It’s a memento mori that wants to dance. The fringe itself reminds me of a tiny theater curtain! Curator: I agree. Schnitzler has captured a fascinating emotional depth here, and also the state of art production itself at the time. A strange little relic, capturing anxieties about the old clashing with the new. Editor: A perfect little gothic drama on cardboard. It’s hard to believe so much depth comes in such a small format!