Strook zwarte kant met bloem- en bladmotief met één gladde zijde en één rand met schulpen, op karton c. 1925

Here we see a sample of black lace with floral and foliate motifs created by Gustav Schnitzler. The enduring appeal of floral patterns throughout art history speaks to a deep, perhaps subconscious, connection to nature and its cycles of renewal and decay. We see echoes of this motif in ancient Minoan frescoes, where stylized flowers adorned palace walls, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. Consider how the stylized floral patterns here contrast with the naturalistic depictions of flowers in Dutch Golden Age paintings. While those artists sought to capture the fleeting beauty of individual blossoms, the lace maker employs abstraction, reducing the flower to its essential form. The floral motif transcends mere decoration. It's a continuous thread weaving through the tapestry of human expression, appearing in myriad forms and contexts, reflecting our perennial fascination with the natural world.