Strook naaldkant op een met rood textiel bekleed stuk karton 1910 - 1911

This is a piece of needle lace on red textile-covered cardboard by Johanna E. van Nierop. It’s a thing of beauty, and a testament to artmaking as a process, something that evolves stitch by stitch. Look closely, and you can see how the artist has built up this intricate design. It's all about texture, the way the delicate lace contrasts with the solid red beneath. The pattern, a floral motif, seems to grow organically, meandering across the surface. I’m drawn to one particular flower, slightly off-center. Notice how the threads loop and swirl to create a sense of depth. It reminds me of the way artists like Yayoi Kusama use repetition to create immersive worlds. This piece, too, invites us into a world of meticulous detail and quiet contemplation, where the simple act of making becomes a form of meditation. It is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation across time.