Negen zijden kwasten aan tresband in marineblauw c. 1925

Gustav Schnitzler made these nine silk tassels with marine-blue trim without noting when. These tassels look like they’re made from the kind of stuff that’s just lying around, but then assembled with a delicate care, as if the artist is trying to use what’s at hand to create something special. Like a painter using found pigments. I wonder if Schnitzler was thinking about the weight and feel of the silk when they made them. Did they get a sense of satisfaction from how the material draped and moved? The dark blue is so rich and deep, almost like a hidden world. It makes me think about other artists who have used found materials to make art, like El Anatsui, who creates these amazing sculptures from discarded bottle caps and other trash. It's like Schnitzler is in conversation with them across time, figuring out new ways to transform the everyday into something beautiful and meaningful. These tassels aren't just decorations; they're a story, a feeling, a whole world of possibilities wrapped up in silk.