Ornamenteel patroon met cirkels en vlinderpatroon 1884 - 1952

Editor: This watercolour and ink drawing, "Ornamenteel patroon met cirkels en vlinderpatroon," or "Ornamental Pattern with Circles and Butterfly Pattern" by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries, feels very balanced and symmetrical, and makes me think of decorative wallpaper. How do you interpret the symbolism in this piece? Curator: The repeated motifs invite a reading through the lens of cultural memory. What visual echoes do you find familiar? Editor: The butterflies, maybe? Butterflies often symbolize transformation. And the geometric shapes...perhaps stability and order? Curator: Exactly. Butterflies as symbols of transformation stretch back centuries, representing the soul's journey in many cultures. And circles are often seen as symbols of wholeness, eternity. Think of this piece within the context of Art Nouveau: how does it depart from earlier naturalistic depictions? Editor: It's more stylized. The butterflies aren't realistically rendered; they're geometric shapes suggesting butterflies. Everything feels simplified, less detailed. Curator: Consider also the psychological weight of repetition. How does the recurring pattern affect you? Is it calming, or does it hint at something more obsessive, a desire for perfect order? Editor: It's both. It’s comforting, because it repeats and my eyes can easily understand the artwork; however, in that regularity, it loses that wild freedom, in which butterflies live.. Curator: Precisely. Art Nouveau was often about capturing the essence of nature, not its literal form. De Vries seems to play with these opposing forces, suggesting a controlled, perhaps even idealized version of the natural world. It’s fascinating to consider how artists borrow and reinvent symbols to convey their own messages, right? Editor: Absolutely! I'll never look at a butterfly the same way. Thanks.