Rol met paars lint met één gerafelde zijde en drie witte horizontale strepen

Here, we see a roll of purple ribbon with white stripes by Gustav Schnitzler. Its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection prompts questions about how everyday, functional objects acquire art status. In the absence of further documentation about the artist or context, we might consider the cultural and economic status of textiles during the period in which it was made. Ribbons, throughout history, signaled status through color, texture, and pattern, and were often connected with trade and industry. How are we to understand the role of the museum here? Further research would be needed, perhaps into the provenance of the object, the museum's collecting practices, or the artist’s other work. Ultimately, it is through social and institutional context that we can start to understand the life and meaning of a humble roll of ribbon.