Staal met bedrukte zijde, dessin Diana 1911 - 1917

This is Staal met bedrukte zijde, dessin Diana made sometime between 1903 and 1932 by the Wiener Werkstätte. I wonder about this Diana, what was she like? Or is it just a name? I can really imagine the designer playing with patterns, laying strips of fabric out, moving them around, and probably discarding lots of things that didn't work. You see, the relationship between the artist and the material is really intimate. There's an exchange of ideas and intentions. The artist guides the medium but also lets the medium guide the artist. It's kind of like dancing. The material, in turn, speaks to the viewer. The combination of different textures, colors, and designs in the silk, it's a really rich language to explore. Looking at it, I am thinking about Anni Albers playing with textile design. I wonder if she ever saw this, or if it would have inspired her? After all, every artist works in dialogue with others!