Servet van linnendamast met meidoorns 1900 - 1925

This linen damask napkin with hawthorns was made by Chris Lebeau, but when exactly, we don't know. What really grabs me is how the design is brought to life through the weave itself. It's like the fabric is breathing! You know, when you look at it, the surface seems smooth, almost flat. But then, the pattern emerges, a tactile dance of light and shadow. The hawthorn motif, replicated over and over, creates this shimmering effect. I love how Lebeau uses the material itself to create depth, the way light catches on the raised patterns, giving the napkin a life of its own. Think of it as a kind of visual echo – a single form expanded and made monumental through careful repetition. It reminds me of Anni Albers' weaving experiments at the Bauhaus. There's this sense of honoring the material, of letting the process guide the final form. It’s not just decoration, but a conversation between the artist, the medium, and the world around them.