Strook dubbelzijdig geschulpte zwarte machinale kant met bloemmotief met contourdraden, op karton c. 1925

This double-sided piece of machine-made black lace with a floral motif, mounted on cardboard, was created by Gustav Schnitzler. It's so interesting how the precision of a machine can still evoke something so delicate. Looking closely, you can see the contrast between the solid black outlines and the more transparent, web-like patterns within the floral shapes. It's almost like a drawing, but with thread. The scalloped edges give it a playful, rhythmic quality, like a musical score. I'm drawn to the way the light filters through the lace, creating shadows and highlights that shift as you move around it. It reminds me of the work of Anni Albers, who elevated weaving to an art form. Like Albers, Schnitzler takes a functional material and transforms it into something beautiful and thought-provoking. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that even the simplest materials can be used to create complex and meaningful works. It just shows you, there's no real limit to what you can make art out of.