Naaldkantpatroon voor een u-vormige kraag c. 1915

This Naaldkantpatroon voor een u-vormige kraag, or needle lace pattern for a U-shaped collar, was made by a Belgian internee in Amersfoort. The repeating floral and leaf motifs are meticulously drawn in black ink, creating a delicate, almost ethereal design. The pattern is incredibly detailed; each tiny loop and curve is carefully rendered. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, building up the intricate network of lines. Look at the way the artist has created a sense of depth and texture with the shading within each flower petal. The pattern has a real sense of flow and rhythm that reminds me of Matisse’s paper cut outs, and the way that artists such as Christina Ramberg would use dress patterns as the basis for paintings and drawings. Like them, this anonymous Belgian internee transforms a pattern into a form of personal expression. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about creating a space for ongoing conversation.