Rol met wit lint met één gerafelde zijde en drie zwarte horizontale strepen c. 1930

This roll of white ribbon with black stripes by Gustav Schnitzler has such a quiet, understated presence. I mean, look at that frayed edge. How did that happen? Was it deliberate? Accidental? I imagine Schnitzler carefully painting each stripe, maybe lost in thought, maybe just enjoying the simple act of creation. The surface is pretty interesting, it’s worn, almost distressed, which gives it a feeling of age and history, like it’s been sitting in a drawer for decades just waiting to be rediscovered. You know, it reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s subtle paintings, where she makes all these lines on canvas. There’s something so intimate about this piece, like Schnitzler is whispering a secret to us, inviting us to contemplate the beauty of imperfection. All art is in conversation with other art, and this humble roll of ribbon is no exception. It reminds us that art can be found in the most unexpected places.