Gebatikte sierdoek met veelpuntige ster en florale motieven c. 1910

This batik textile was made by Willem Karel Rees, though we don’t know exactly when. Looking at the way the star form repeats, it's easy to imagine the artist turning the fabric as they worked, building up each shape through a slow and careful process. There’s something so compelling about the combination of deep indigo and faded red. The surface is alive with subtle variations, and I can imagine the artist carefully applying the wax, building up the design layer by layer. Notice the small white dots around the edge of the star, like a delicate halo, each mark a small meditation. The contrast between the intricate floral motifs within the star and the simple, almost raw quality of the dark background is what really makes this piece special. It reminds me a bit of Hilma af Klint's early diagrams, where organic forms are combined with symbolic shapes. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and forms.