Strook gebatikte zijde, gouddruk op paars, met een patroon van wilde rozen en vlinders. Gesigneerd JM TN. c. 1910

This length of batiked silk was made by Theo Nieuwenhuis. The purple ground shimmers with gold, and is decorated with wild roses and butterflies. I imagine Nieuwenhuis carefully painting with hot wax to create a resist, seeing the design emerge slowly through the dyeing process. I wonder what it was like for him to create this? Were the butterflies flitting around his studio, inspiring his composition? Did he have a garden full of wild roses? I think about the texture of the silk, how it would feel cool and smooth to the touch. The gold adds a layer of richness and luminosity, catching the light and making the piece feel special. The repeated forms are reminiscent of William Morris, who, like Nieuwenhuis, was part of the Arts and Crafts Movement, with a focus on decorative arts. Ultimately, this piece speaks to the ongoing conversation between artists across time, each inspiring the other’s creative process. There is something beautiful about the way the artist has embraced ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.