Servet van linnendamast met aardbeien c. 1878 - 1945

This linen damask napkin, probably made by Chris Lebeau, uses the most gorgeous strawberries as its motif. It’s so subtle in its approach. You can see the way the artist’s eye is drawn to the detail of the strawberry, rendering it in the most simplified way. The texture of the cloth almost obscures the design and it's so delicate, like a whisper of a thing. The artist uses a repeated mark to build up the image. There’s a lovely rhythm in the way the strawberries frame the piece, but it's the centre that really sings to me, the way the strawberries cluster in groups. It reminds me a little of William Morris and his textile patterns, but with a light touch all of its own. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and inspiration. The piece embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to it.