Vest met voorpanden van crèmekleurige zijde, geborduurd met een floraal motief Possibly 1906

This vest, with front panels of cream-colored silk, embroidered with a floral motif, lives in the Rijksmuseum. The embroidery is beautiful in its restraint; it feels very gentle, as if the pattern was coaxed from the fabric. Look at the way the thread sits on the silk: it’s soft, not too raised. The monochromatic palette really lets you focus on the texture. I think about the hand that created this; you can tell there’s an appreciation for the material. There’s a meditative quality to the repetitive stitch work. It reminds me that artmaking is a process of care and attention, and each stitch has a rhythm. I’m thinking about the work of contemporary fiber artists like Diedrick Brackens, who use weaving and embroidery to tell stories and explore identity. There's something timeless in that connection; this vest feels like a quiet, ongoing conversation across time. It shows that art isn't about fixed meanings; it’s about endless possibilities.