Coupon zwart parasolgaas aan weerszijden afgezet met drie naar buiten toe breder wordende ingeweven zwarte satijnen strepen c. 1900 - 1925

This is a piece of parasol gauze in black, with woven satin stripes, made by Gustav Schnitzler, and held at the Rijksmuseum. It's dark, so dark, like a painting by Ad Reinhardt, but it's also sheer, it lets the light through. I think about how the artist would have to weave in those lines with precision and care. The black parasol gauze reminds me of a minimalist painting, it could be Agnes Martin, only softer, more fabric-like. You can imagine the texture and weave of it, the light catching on the satin stripes. It’s such a simple thing, just a piece of fabric, but it’s also kind of beautiful, in a quiet way. It's so understated. It shows the potential for art and craft to be found in the most unexpected places.