Ornament 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this ornament, which is a pencil drawing, probably sometime in the early 20th century. I’m drawn to the way the artist repeats motifs, like little diamonds and dots, to create a pattern that feels both decorative and kind of…mathematical, you know? It's like doodling, but with a purpose. The lines are delicate, but there's also a sense of precision. You can almost feel the artist carefully building the ornament, one shape at a time. Look at the way the lines curve and swirl, especially in the fan-like section. It’s really interesting how the texture of the paper shows through, giving the drawing a kind of ghostly presence. The ornament has a life of its own, a playful spirit. It reminds me a little bit of Hilma af Klint's drawings, in the way it tries to capture something beyond the surface of things, but more grounded and less overtly spiritual. Like artmaking as an ongoing conversation, full of echoes and possibilities.