Lint op rol, wit satijn met in het midden twee strepen zwart, één zijde is geschulpt en afgezet met een golvende rand in zwart c. 1890 - 1935

Editor: This is a photograph of "Lint op rol, wit satijn met in het midden twee strepen zwart, één zijde is geschulpt en afgezet met een golvende rand in zwart," dating from around 1890-1935. The image depicts a roll of white satin ribbon with black stripes and trim. I’m struck by how such a simple object can feel so…laden. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the subject itself—ribbon—immediately makes me consider its historical context. Ribbon, seemingly innocuous, played a huge role in class and gender. It signified wealth, taste and adherence to social norms, especially for women. Think about its use in clothing, hairstyles, even restricting movement. Editor: So, you're saying it's not just a pretty decoration? Curator: Exactly! It’s a material signifier. This photograph, taken likely during a period of significant social change, might be seen as a subtle commentary on those roles. The black and white contrast could also represent societal dichotomies, no? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, more as a visual thing, how the dark lines pop against the satin. But what about the label with "10 metres garantis" on it? Does that suggest mass production or something? Curator: Absolutely! Mass production impacted consumption and availability. Were women increasingly purchasing ready-made ribbons versus hand-making embellishments? What power dynamics were at play there? Think about factory labor, the role of women in the workforce, and how these changes might disrupt societal norms around domesticity and craft. Editor: Wow, you’ve given me so much to think about. I guess even an image of something so simple as a roll of ribbon has a whole story behind it. Curator: Indeed. Objects are rarely just objects; they're reflections of the world and those power structures embedded within it.