Ornament met gestileerde vlinder 1884 - 1952

This Ornament met gestileerde vlinder was made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, but the creation date is currently unknown. It's giving me process vibes, with its commitment to an aesthetic and form, it also looks so flat. The colors in this piece are working hard: brown, tan, black, cream and white all have to work together. I particularly like the dots that appear throughout the piece. They look like little mistakes but they're carefully placed and add movement and depth. These dots are the secret ingredient to bringing a touch of playfulness to this more somber piece. It reminds me of Art Nouveau, and maybe even a bit of Gustav Klimt with its heavy ornamentation and interest in color. Either way, there's a lot to enjoy and think about here. It is this kind of piece that makes you reflect on art as an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time.