Driepotige tafel naar ontwerp van Mathieu Lauweriks c. 1910

Here we have a photograph of a three-legged table after a design by Mathieu Lauweriks. There is so much to unpack in this quiet scene, which is made up of muted tones and subtle contrasts. The symmetry of the wallpaper is almost a distraction to the sculptural quality of the three-legged table. The table’s legs are particularly striking, each one ending in a delicate point, while the tops have what appear to be carved faces of women, which give the piece an almost human presence, like the caryatids of ancient Greece. This tension between the solid object and the artistic embellishments gives the piece a lot of character. When I look at this image, I’m reminded of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes. Both share a muted palette and a focus on the simple beauty of everyday objects. Much like Morandi, this work embraces quiet contemplation over loud pronouncements.