Decoratief patroon c. 1916 - 1945

This decorative pattern was made by Reijer Stolk sometime in the early 20th century, presumably with a pencil. Isn't it interesting how a simple line can create a whole world? Here, it's like Stolk is exploring the edge of abstraction, those light gray lines on the off-white paper almost disappearing. The repetition of the shapes, like a distorted tessellation, gives the pattern a kind of hypnotic rhythm. It's as if he's teasing us with the possibility of representation, but never quite committing. That small, vibrant blue mark in the lower right corner feels like a punchline or maybe a small sun? It’s a reminder that even in the most structured compositions, there's always room for a little bit of spontaneity. Thinking about artists like Agnes Martin and her quiet meditations on the grid, it's clear that Stolk is part of a lineage of artists who find endless possibilities within simple parameters.