Twee kaders met ornamenten 1884 - 1952

This design for two ornaments was made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, but the date and medium are unknown. What strikes me here is the muted palette, like aged parchment, allowing the decorative elements to hover in a space between visibility and concealment. Looking closely, the surface texture reveals layers, and the ornamental shapes have a tactile presence. The paint application is thin, which evokes a sense of transparency. The intentionality in the repetition of curved lines and flourishes in the design makes me wonder what purpose it could have served, maybe as an architectural detail? De Vries' design reminds me of Hilma af Klint's early explorations into abstraction, where the unseen becomes visible through symbolic forms. It's a beautiful example of how art can embrace ambiguity and open doors to endless interpretations.