Tussenzetsel van wit kant, tule met een rij moesjes, op karton c. 1920

This length of white lace, tulle with a row of dots, mounted on cardboard, lives at the Rijksmuseum. It’s by Gustav Schnitzler. It’s interesting to consider the making of this piece, which is all about repetition and rhythm. The material aspect here is so tactile, even though we can’t touch it! The lace, a delicate web of white, contrasts beautifully with the sturdy, unadorned cardboard. I imagine the texture of the lace, its tiny perforations and the raised dots creating a topography of touch. Look at the way it’s been wound – not too neat, a little haphazard, which I love. The slight imperfections and irregularities in the lace speak to the hand that crafted it, like a painter's brushstrokes revealing their movement. This piece makes me think of Eva Hesse's playful approach to materials. Both Schnitzler and Hesse share a fascination with the tension between the grid and the organic.