Reisalbum met foto's van bedrijvigheid en bezienswaardigheden op Sumatra en Java en van de reis naar en van Nederlands-Indië c. 1900 - 1920

This ‘Reisalbum met foto's van bedrijvigheid en bezienswaardigheden op Sumatra en Java en van de reis naar en van Nederlands-Indië’ is a photo album covered with batik fabric, presumably made around the time of the photographs. The artists are unknown, but they worked with dye and wax on cloth. The fabric is a warm, inviting mix of browns and creams with accents of indigo. The batik is full of little details, organic shapes next to sharp geometric forms. Look at the way the fine lines of the crackle effect contrast with the solid blocks of color in the central heart shape. It’s this kind of intimate juxtaposition that makes this piece so engaging, a push and pull between control and accident. The pattern feels both ancient and modern, reminding me of Hilma af Klint’s early abstract works. Both artists share a love of pattern and symbolism, creating these intricate, all-over compositions that are so rich in associations. Batik, like any art form, is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue between tradition and innovation, control and chance, meaning and mystery.