Genopte en gesneden fluweel met gestileerde bloemtuiltjes, in lichtgroenig-blauw c. 1920 - 1930

This piece is a sample of cut velvet with stylized floral bouquets in a light greenish-blue, made by Firma H.P. Mutters. What strikes me first is the repetition, a kind of meditative rhythm created by these little bouquets. The surface of the velvet invites touch, doesn't it? You can almost feel the soft nap under your fingers, the slight give of the fabric. The light catches the raised pattern, creating subtle shifts in tone that animate the surface. Look closely at how each tiny flower is formed, a circle of smaller circles, like a miniature galaxy. It is so precise, and yet I wonder if there are slight variations from bouquet to bouquet; in the image they appear more shadowy and blurred in certain areas. This kind of textile design reminds me a little of Anni Albers' work, or even the way Agnes Martin used grids and repetition to create a sense of calm. It is a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that even the simplest of materials can be transformed into something beautiful and thought-provoking.