Needlepoint Tapestry c. 1940

Editor: So, this is Cornelius Christoffels' "Needlepoint Tapestry," from around 1940. It looks like mixed media on textile and drawing, maybe watercolor, too? It has a homey, almost quaint feel to it. Very symmetrical. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Quaint is a kind way of putting it! It's charming, sure, but also kind of...intense, right? I mean, the Pattern and Decoration movement wasn't always about pretty, fluffy designs. Sometimes it was about overwhelming the viewer, challenging notions of 'good taste' in art. You almost feel the hours poured into this, imagining the rhythmic stitching. It speaks to a dedication – or perhaps, obsession? Do you get that vibe? Editor: I do see that. Like, the dedication required to make something like this. Do you think it's actually a plan for a needlepoint, rather than a needlepoint itself? Curator: Absolutely. It's almost too pristine, isn't it? And look at the precision of the watercolour washes mimicking the textures of textile. Very meta! It reminds me of some design ideas of William Morris – that urge to reclaim beauty in the everyday, to bring art into the home, even if through a somewhat laborious process. Makes you want to pick up a needle, or perhaps more realistically, admire the skill from a safe distance! Editor: Yeah, safe distance for me! But it's fascinating to think of it as a plan, like a little map for creating something beautiful and tactile. I never thought about textile art that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It is like a map of sorts - both a beautiful creation on its own, but it gives direction toward what it might eventually become. And I hadn't ever pondered it in such practical terms, either. Every stitch, accounted for.