Sprei van gemengde kant met veldbloemen c. 1918 - 1920

This intricate lace bedspread was created by J.M. van der Roos. The whole piece is cream on pale cream – a real tone-on-tone situation. It looks like it’s made up of lots of tiny repeated floral motifs, a real labour of love to create such a large item. Looking closely, you can see that the lace has lots of different textures, from the openwork grids to the dense floral patterns. It's almost like a drawing made with thread. The way the light catches the raised areas gives it a 3D quality, casting tiny shadows that make the patterns pop. There's a circular motif at the centre, radiating outward, like a doily magnified. This piece reminds me of the work of Anni Albers, who elevated weaving to an art form. Both artists share an interest in process, and in the act of creating something functional that's also incredibly beautiful. It’s a good example of how the repetition of a simple gesture can create something complex and mesmerising.