Naailap van linnen en katoen met zes lussen, vier knopen, twee haken en ogen en acht knoopsgaten; gemerkt: GG 1893 c. 1893

G. Glas created this needlework sampler in 1893 from linen and cotton. The eye is immediately drawn to the geometric arrangement of stitched shapes. It's an off-white textile, aged and softened, with a grid-like structure formed by the various seams and attachments. The composition functions as a study in the structural elements of clothing construction, challenging the conventional role of textiles as mere material. Glas presents us with a surface that explores the very nature of its being. The stitches, loops, and buttonholes are like linguistic units in a semiotic system, each element a signifier contributing to the overall syntax of the work. The artist has isolated these functional components. The seemingly simple structure questions our expectations of utility. Ultimately, the work underscores how we imbue everyday objects with cultural meaning. The sampler becomes a site where the practical intersects with the theoretical.