Collier met hanger van imitatieschildpad c. 1930 - 1932

This necklace by Willem van Laar, made of imitation tortoiseshell, is a dance between nature and artifice. The way the light filters through the varying densities of the faux tortoiseshell, creating a play of shadows and highlights, feels intentional. It's like the artist is inviting us to question what we perceive as real and what we accept as imitation. Look at the circular pendant; the cuts in the material allow you to see the skin tone of the wearer. This creates another layer of complexity, as the pendant’s design interacts with the wearer, becoming part of them. I am reminded of the work of René Magritte. Both artists compel us to question the relationship between the real and the represented. This piece celebrates art as a space of ambiguity and multiple interpretations, a place where fixed meanings dissolve.