Bag c. 1940

Cornelius Christoffels made this watercolour of a cross-stitched bag, but when is anyone's guess, somewhere between 1879 and 1960. I can really imagine the patient handwork involved in making the original bag. Each tiny ‘x’ of thread laid down, a commitment to the bigger picture, one stitch at a time. I've done needlepoint, and the slow, meditative process really focuses your attention. It's a bit like painting in that way—you’re building up layers, making decisions with each mark. Look at the way the flowers and bird are rendered. They are not quite perfect but full of life and character. It’s like Christoffels is honoring the spirit of the craft, the human touch that makes it special. The colors, the textures, the little imperfections—they all tell a story. It reminds me that all artmaking is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time.