Stalen gordijnstof naar ontwerp van Theo Nieuwenhuis, in passe-partout c. 1910

Theo Nieuwenhuis created this curtain fabric design, presented in a passe-partout, sometime in the early 20th century. What strikes me is the way the designs hint at process, at the hand of the maker. There's a real back-and-forth, a dance between intention and accident that feels very alive. Look at the top left swatch, with the repeated floral motif. The weave is so dense, yet the shapes retain a certain organic quality. It feels as if the artist let the materials guide the pattern, embracing the irregularities inherent in the process. The subtle color variations, the way the light catches on the surface, give it a tactile presence. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric, the warp and weft of the threads. These designs remind me a little of William Morris, though Nieuwenhuis has his own sensibility. What both artists share is an understanding that art is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue between the artist, the materials, and the world around them. And like all good conversations, it's full of surprises and unexpected turns.