Wandbespanning 1911 - 1915

Curator: First impressions? I see "Wandbespanning," a textile piece created between 1911 and 1915 by Chris Lebeau, now residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Mesmerizingly hypnotic! It has this serene, almost meditative vibe, like staring into perfectly ordered chaos. I immediately want to know what secrets this fabric holds. Curator: It’s interesting that you say "secrets". Lebeau was heavily involved with socialist ideals, and design was a part of his way to propagate his ideals. Pieces like this were meant to elevate craft to an art form accessible to a wider audience. This "Wandbespanning" shows an exquisite, repeatable pattern that draws on nature with geometric elements. Editor: Ah, that’s it! Nature trying to remember geometry. There’s a tension, but also harmony there. Almost like cells dividing under a microscope…but with, I don’t know, a touch of royalty. Perhaps it looks accessible because of that, but feels utterly refined too. I think the material almost becomes irrelevant given that repetition and symmetry, or perhaps weaving adds an extra, earthy quality to the overall visual experience. Curator: I agree, the repeated patterns create a visual rhythm, indicative of the Art Nouveau and decorative art movements influence here. However, while the symmetry nods to traditional design principles, the overall abstraction feels rather forward-thinking for the period. Editor: Forward-thinking but accessible too; Lebeau certainly knew his audience. This could be a quiet rebellion against high art! Imagine it as a backdrop. Now, that tells me of gatherings with heady conversations. The perfect catalyst to ignite those socialist ideals, don't you think? It definitely sparked something in me, and now, this… weaving tells me a whole story, ready for being re-interpreted today. Curator: It is wonderful how well it transcends time and communicates over a century later. I am fascinated with the capacity art has of reflecting on a concrete reality while offering diverse layers for an emotional experience. Editor: Absolutely! And perhaps we've found our secret—art is never really just seen, it is lived and relived in every eye and heart beholding it, time after time.