Ontwerpen voor een zilveren doosje 1913 - 1917

Mathieu Lauweriks created this silver box design on graph paper in 1913. The overall effect is an exercise in geometric constraint, but there’s a funny, almost organic quality, to the curves in the design. I keep thinking about how the grid creates a foundation, but the spiral softens everything. Look at how the lines are not perfectly neat, the shading wavers, and the marks have their own unique personalities. It reminds me that even within strict systems, there's always room for spontaneity. That central point, where everything originates, is fascinating. It’s densely packed, a sort of nucleus, from which the design unfurls. This connects to the work of Hilma af Klint. Both artists used geometry to explore ideas of form and space, reflecting a period where art was deeply engaged with the language of mathematics and science. In the end, it’s all about rhythm, conversation, and the endless possibilities of the line.