Vierkante ruit met in het midden een ronde ruit in geel en donkerbruin after 1918

Editor: This striking stained-glass piece is "Vierkante ruit met in het midden een ronde ruit in geel en donkerbruin" by Jacoba van Heemskerck, created sometime after 1918. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The patterns feel so… geometric and almost tribal. What do you see in this work, beyond the obvious patterns? Curator: Beyond the immediate visual impact, I see a profound exploration of abstraction and its intersection with early 20th-century anxieties. Van Heemskerck, working in a period defined by the trauma of the First World War and the rise of industrialization, engages in a visual dialogue about the search for order amidst chaos. Consider the interplay of the rigid square and the dynamic circle: might this reflect tensions between the established societal structures and the burgeoning desire for change and renewal? Editor: That’s an interesting perspective. I was mainly focused on the abstract nature of the piece and hadn't considered how historical context might contribute to a reading of her choices. Curator: The abstraction isn't devoid of meaning, though. Notice the layering of patterns, especially the repetition of triangles, squares and curvilinear elements. In the context of early modernism and a male dominated art world, do you read a particular challenge to, or even subversion of, traditional notions of femininity in such seemingly simple compositions? How do these abstract patterns, through their deliberate arrangement and colour choices, resonate with emerging theories of psychology and perception gaining traction in Europe? Editor: Now I’m considering the overall organization of the composition, including Van Heemskerck as a woman within these artistic trends. It definitely adds another layer to how I perceive her decisions. It also gives depth to the simple interplay. Curator: Precisely. Art is never created in a vacuum. Considering the artwork's socio-political landscape deepens our appreciation. I leave this artwork pondering how social anxiety can manifest itself within such striking color patterns.