Wasserfall (Waterfall) 1910 - 1912

Editor: Here we have Josef Hoffmann's textile panel, "Wasserfall," or "Waterfall," created sometime between 1910 and 1912. It's crafted from cotton and resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's interesting how the repetition almost lulls you into a sense of calm. It looks quite modern for something made over a century ago. What do you make of this work? Curator: It’s uncanny, isn’t it? The geometry is simple, almost childlike, but its impact… it ripples! I see endless rain on a windowpane, perhaps? Or, dare I say, a regimented weeping? Hoffmann was flirting with the decorative here, certainly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. These linear elements make it hard to tear away once your eyes latch on, as they flow up and down endlessly. It seems to dance, doesn't it? I wonder what was on his mind. What feeling might this piece evoke in you? Editor: The rhythm definitely draws me in, even if the color palette is very neutral. I'm just trying to figure out if the name came after or before, because waterfall makes a lot of sense. Curator: Perhaps the name acts as a secret key. He might have begun with mere geometry, letting feeling blossom into a "naming of parts," like a modernist Eden. The Arts and Crafts ethos valued the artisan, imbuing objects with stories; even abstraction whispers. Wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I think I agree. It really emphasizes that simple isn't the same as simplistic. There is so much more than initially meets the eye. Curator: Precisely. It makes you ponder, doesn't it? Beauty from the humblest thread. Now I want to go ponder it some more, thank you for your curiosity.