Bookmark c. 1938

This "Bookmark" by Fred Hassebrock, made sometime in the 20th century, is worked in what looks like some kind of fibre, maybe wool or cotton. The process here is all about incremental steps, building up an image through repetition. The texture gives it away: each tiny stitch or knot is a decision, a mark. Up close you can see how the threads build up layers and create a kind of bas-relief. The overall effect is soft, even blurry, which makes the simple image of a harp seem like a half-remembered tune. Look closely at the way the colors shift within the harp itself: the pinks and golds that bring a sense of romanticism to this humble object. It reminds me a little of the tapestries made by Bauhaus artist Anni Albers, though much more personal and less formal. There’s something deeply human about the imperfections here, a reminder that art is as much about the making as the finished product, an idea which embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations.