Wandbespanning 1911 - 1915

This textile titled 'Wandbespanning' was made by Chris Lebeau, though we don’t know exactly when. Look at the way he’s built up the pattern with these tiny marks, a bit like he’s building something up, cell by cell. It gives the whole thing a kind of shimmer. Now, let's think about the materiality of this piece. It's all about texture. I love the ochre tone, and how it feels aged, almost like a memory fading into the background. Then you have these motifs, like coded messages or emblems. Notice how these details play with the vertical lines. They are so precise, yet slightly imperfect, which makes you wonder about the hand of the artist. It reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, with its hidden symbols and devotion to the construction of motifs. Art is an ongoing conversation, always referencing and reinterpreting the past, inviting us to bring our own experiences.