Sector van een parasoldek van ultramarijn katoen; met geschulpte rand 1885 - 1900

Editor: This is a section of an ultramarine cotton parasol canopy with a scalloped edge. It’s from between 1885 and 1900. Seeing it isolated like this, a triangular slice of intense blue, almost feels like looking at an abstract painting. How do you interpret this work beyond just a fragment of a parasol? Curator: Well, let's consider the period. The late 19th century witnessed the rise of the Arts and Crafts movement, which strongly advocated for the handmade, celebrating craftsmanship as a response to industrialisation's dehumanising effects. Does this fragment challenge or reinforce those values, do you think? Editor: It does feel hand-crafted in a way that is both aesthetically beautiful and functional, though its geometry appears very simple. Could we discuss further how that dichotomy might create new values? Curator: Precisely. Though seemingly straightforward, consider the social implications of a parasol during this era. Who used it? What did it signify? What about the labour conditions to acquire this high pigment ultramarine fabric? It suggests class, leisure, and even power. Its abstraction might reflect a deliberate choice to foreground these social relations, presenting us not just with an object, but with an articulation about a societal structure and identity, don't you think? Editor: That's fascinating! I had only considered it from a design perspective initially, but situating it within these intersectional narratives of class, gender, and labour really opens up the reading of the piece. Thanks, it's helped me reframe my way of thinking! Curator: My pleasure. Remember, every piece, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can offer insights into the complex socio-political landscape of its time. I think that, moving forward, will allow for great appreciation of the pieces around us.