Tussenzetsel van wit kant op karton c. 1920

This "Tussenzetsel van wit kant op karton" was designed by Gustav Schnitzler, and now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The delicate white lace, meticulously wound on a simple cardboard roll, presents a stark contrast between fragility and structure. The repetition of the lace pattern, with its intricate yet uniform design, speaks to the industrial processes of its time. The numerical annotations scrawled on the cardboard introduce an element of semiotics, a code that suggests value and function within a commercial context. This system of signs reflects a world where even beauty is quantified and categorized. The interplay between the organic flow of the lace and the rigid geometry of the cardboard roll invites a deeper consideration of form and function. It is not merely a decorative object, but an artifact that embodies broader cultural and philosophical considerations about production, value, and the commodification of beauty.