Ontwerp voor een tapijt met verticale banen Possibly 1924 - 1928

This is Dirk Verstraten’s 'Design for a carpet with vertical stripes,' and it looks like it was made with gouache. The surface of the central purple rectangle is so flat and opaque, like a big calm sea. Yet, when you look closer, you can see subtle brushstrokes, like the tide coming in and out. Then there are those stripey lines on either side. On the left, earthy reds and greys and on the right cool blues and blacks. Note that each set of lines is slightly different from the next. The imperfections, the little wobbles, give the whole thing a real human touch, like a funky, hand-woven textile. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, especially in the way it uses color and line to create a sense of space and depth. Like Martin, Verstraten seems interested in the power of simple forms to evoke complex emotions and ideas. This design celebrates the beauty of imperfection, inviting us to embrace ambiguity and see the world in new ways.