Echarpe of loper van naaldkant van Koningin Wilhelmina 1918

This Echarpe was deftly woven out of needle lace for Queen Wilhelmina, and I can only imagine the hours of painstaking labour it took to bring such intricate patterns into being. Think of the maker, Isidore De Rudder, seated, perhaps in a quiet corner, meticulously guiding the needle, each stitch a testament to his skill and patience. The delicate tendrils and heraldic motifs emerge slowly, layer upon layer, as the design builds into being. The figures of cupids with shields and lions with crowns are striking and their placement and mirroring feel pleasingly balanced. The materiality of lace is always so enchanting, the way it is almost there but simultaneously not there, it is a solid thing but then also full of holes which open onto the world. It reminds me of other artists who embrace detail and repetition, like Agnes Martin, whose grids feel as delicate and precise as this lace. It's all about finding your voice and using the language you have at your disposal.