Kantontwerp van een kleed in rechthoekvorm met langwerpige bladvoluutmotieven in witte inkt op zwart karton c. 1920 - 1935

J.H. Pleging-Faber made this rectangular carpet design with elongated leaf volute motifs using white ink on black cardboard. You know, I can almost feel the artist leaning over the black surface, carefully applying the white ink. Maybe they were thinking about the texture of lace, how delicate and intricate it can be. Each stroke of the brush or pen probably had to be just right to capture that airy, open feeling. I imagine Pleging-Faber was inspired by nature, those curling leaf shapes are so elegant and full of life. But there’s also something really formal and structured about the design. Maybe they were trying to find a balance between the wildness of the natural world and the order of design. It makes me think about the conversations artists have across time. How one person’s exploration leads to another’s. It is this kind of exchange that keeps art alive, isn't it? A constant back-and-forth of ideas and inspirations.