De nationale feestrok Possibly 1946

This photograph shows a woman wearing a skirt made up of many different fabric scraps. The photograph, by K. Raucamp, captures a moment of the artist's process. The skirt is the focal point, its surface alive with a patchwork of patterns. Each piece is so individual! It feels like an exercise in spontaneity. There is something really hopeful and playful about this image, a real can-do attitude and celebratory feeling. My eye is drawn to how the light catches the different textures of the skirt. The variations in tone remind me of Cubism, or the cut-outs of Matisse. The idea of national pride being embodied in the form of a handmade skirt is a beautiful idea and shows the power of clothing as self expression. It is a striking example of how folk art embraces many interpretations.