Handschoen van wit leer c. 1900 - 1915

These gloves were crafted from white leather by Maison de Bonneterie, and now they reside in the Rijksmuseum. Imagine the careful, deliberate cutting and stitching, the artist coaxing the pliable material into a second skin. Each crease and wrinkle tells a story of use, of hands at work or play, a silent choreography. These aren't just gloves, they're vessels of touch, ghosts of gestures. I wonder what it was like for the maker, meticulously shaping the leather, their own hands guiding the process. Were they thinking of warmth, of protection, or of the elegance these gloves might impart? I feel like it is speaking to the Surrealists, in a strange way. There's a beauty in the simplicity, the unassuming elegance of these gloves. Like a blank canvas, they invite us to project our own narratives onto them, to imagine the lives they've touched, and to ponder the enduring power of craft. We all leave our mark, don’t we?