Coupon zwart parasolgaas aan weerszijden afgezet met drie zwarte satijnen strepen c. 1900 - 1925

This ‘Coupon zwart parasolgaas aan weerszijden afgezet met drie zwarte satijnen strepen’ was made by Gustav Schnitzler, but when? Who knows! Here we have what looks like a swatch of fabric, black mesh, with stripes, maybe for an umbrella? I like to imagine Schnitzler, sitting in his studio, perhaps late at night, holding this material up to the light, thinking about its possibilities. You know, it might have been intended for something completely different. It is amazing that he can make such a simple piece become so visually appealing. I think of Mondrian, and his grids. He also took something simple and made it sing. It is like they are having a conversation across time. I mean, that is what artists do, right? We see something, we respond, and we add to the story. Even when it’s as simple as black fabric.