Parasolknop of parapluknop van hout, met op de knop een ingekerfde versiering in de vorm van zonnebloemen c. 1920

This wooden parasol knob, or parapluknop as the Dutch say, sits here at the Rijksmuseum, carved by Gustav Schnitzler. With what looks like a simple tool, the artist has managed to transform a functional object into something tender. I think about the hand that held this object, the pressure, and the repetitive, almost meditative act of carving. The surface has a gentle sheen, worn smooth by time and touch, and the wood grain has a beautiful, varied pattern. Look closely at the sunflower, each petal carefully shaped. The artist's hand seems to dance between precision and spontaneity, the dark lines outlining the petals giving depth and definition, like a confident outline sketch. It reminds me of the work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who also worked with woodcut. Like Kirchner, the artist embraces the material's natural qualities to enhance the work's emotional impact. Ultimately, this knob is a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.