Band met een plantmotief c. 1901

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this plant design, in pencil, probably right here in the museum. It makes me wonder what the artist was thinking when they made it? Were they thinking about interior design, wallpapers, or textiles? Were they trying to capture the spirit of nature or just create a pretty pattern? I like how these two stylized flowers seem to have eyes that stare back at us. The way they're stacked, one above the other, gives the piece a nice rhythm and movement. Notice the little details, like the delicate lines and swirls, that make it feel so alive and organic. Painters, like Dijsselhof, are always in conversation with each other, inspiring and riffing off each other's ideas. It’s a process of exchange across time. These designers offer different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world, all the while leaving us with more questions than answers, and that's the beauty of art, isn't it?