Daghestan rug design bubbles for Backhausen 1899

Koloman Moser drafted this design for a Daghestan rug for Backhausen around 1899, using ink and red paint. The composition is dominated by circles. In their simplest form, circles are pure and complete. But here, the wavy lines disrupt the perfection of the orb, suggesting a world in constant flux. These spheres, or bubbles as they are called, are reminiscent of ancient cosmological maps, depicting stars or planets connected by ethereal pathways. Think of medieval alchemical drawings, where such orbs symbolize transformation, connected by lines representing the flow of energy and change. Similarly, the circles in Moser’s rug design are linked by thin lines, perhaps alluding to an interconnectedness. What we see here is not merely a design for a rug. It's a symbol, a potent visual metaphor. The recurring motif resonates deep within our collective memory, evoking feelings of unity, harmony, and the cyclical nature of existence. And so it is that visual symbols carry within them the power to stir something primal within us, transcending time.