Ornamentiek Possibly 1937

Editor: Here we have Bernard Willem Wierink’s "Ornamentiek," likely from 1937, created using watercolor on paper. It's surprisingly sparse, almost hesitant, in its decoration. I’m struck by how the delicate red ornaments seem lost on the expanse of the paper. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it's funny you say "hesitant" because it makes me think about the idea of "intention." It *feels* sparse, doesn't it? Like a haiku rather than an epic poem. To me, that spaciousness becomes almost meditative. Imagine this as a seed for a much grander design, a sort of minimalist blueprint for something that might blossom into full-blown Art Deco. Do you get a sense of the potential energy stored within those simple shapes? Editor: I do now that you mention Art Deco, and how it might inspire larger patterns... I guess I was so focused on what *wasn't* there. But I can imagine repeating that central motif across a larger canvas or perhaps on fabric. It would have this subdued elegance. Curator: Precisely! And the hand-painted quality…it warms what otherwise might be cold geometry. Think of it as a whispered secret versus a shouted proclamation. These subtle choices nudge us towards intimacy, toward seeing the beauty in quiet repetition and small variations. It reminds me that often, less truly is more, creatively speaking, don't you think? Editor: Definitely. I’m going to look at decorative art differently now, with an eye to the *potential* of these initial artistic seeds. Curator: Exactly! Sometimes, what an artist chooses to leave out speaks as loudly as what they include. Art's not just about filling space; it’s about creating it.