Ontwerp voor een halsketting 1874 - 1932

Mathieu Lauweriks made this design for a necklace on paper, using graphite. Lauweriks was Dutch, and this design likely dates to the early 20th century. Lauweriks’s design reveals the cultural preoccupations of his time. His use of geometric forms, such as the circle, reflects the rise of modernist aesthetics. The design is precise and mathematical, and this precision reflects the increasing rationalization of the art world. Artists began to believe that art could be based on scientific principles. Moreover, Lauweriks was deeply involved in architectural theory and the application of mathematical principles to design. His involvement in various artistic and architectural movements reflects the changing social and intellectual landscape of the Netherlands at the time. To better understand the social history of this work, we might look at archives of design schools or collections of architectural drawings. Through such research, we can appreciate how cultural values shape artistic creation.