Coverlet (Section) c. 1936

This is a section of a coverlet created by Cornelius Christoffels, presenting a symmetrical design of red roses and blue foliage set against a pale pink background. The pixelated effect, achieved through needlework, softens the traditional floral pattern, creating a visual texture that invites closer inspection. The composition plays with positive and negative space; the density of the floral motifs contrasts with the sparser background. The use of color is strategic—red draws the eye, while blue offers a cool counterpoint, and the soft pink unifies the scheme. The design is rigidly organized around a central cross motif, echoing structuralist principles of symmetry and balance. However, the subtle irregularities inherent in handcrafting introduce a degree of variability, destabilizing pure symmetry. This coverlet section, therefore, engages with dialectics of order and disorder, echoing post-structuralist ideas about the instability of meaning and the human element in structured systems.