Ontwerpen voor een sierspeld 1874 - 1932

Mathieu Lauweriks made this design for a hairpin, sometime around the turn of the century, with graphite on paper. It’s all about the process, isn’t it? Look at these graphite lines, so precise, so rhythmic, building form out of repeated marks, like a kind of visual mantra. The texture of the paper peeks through, lending a lightness to the dark graphite. It’s fascinating how he captures the essence of the hairpin, almost like a blueprint, but with a touch of organic flair. Notice the area at the top of the larger design, those curves and spirals? They remind me of Art Nouveau flourishes, kind of like a blossoming flower, or maybe even a fancy seashell. It makes me think of Hilma af Klint, who was also exploring abstraction around the same time, though in a totally different way. Both artists remind us that art is a conversation across time, a constant push and pull of ideas. It's not about answers, it's about questions.