Strik van bruine zijde c. 1925

Curator: Take a look at this photograph titled "Strik van bruine zijde," or "Bow of Brown Silk," dating back to approximately 1925. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Initially, I find this incredibly still, even austere. The color palette is restricted, and the subject is presented with a clear, almost clinical focus. It has the allure of a study rather than a vibrant advertisement. Curator: That’s a fascinating observation, particularly considering its potential role as a commercial image. In the context of the 1920s, the image speaks to the rising significance of product photography, aimed at promoting goods through carefully curated aesthetics and targeted distribution channels. The growing culture of consumerism certainly impacted the art world. Editor: True. And it is a meticulous study in contrasts. The silk’s sheen is juxtaposed against the matte paper and what looks like handwritten notes pinned to it. I’m drawn to how the light interacts with the fabric, emphasizing its texture and volume. It also emphasizes a visual haptic element which appeals to the viewer to touch the silk. Curator: Yes, that small paper element is essential! This tells us it probably was an internal document, for measurements and notes of the textile sample, and an insight of production and manufacturing methods within the fashion industry in that moment. Editor: Interesting, though the writing remains enigmatic to the general public without any translation, which would create a conceptual barrier to most viewers of this work. However, to the educated viewer who knows the language it presents an appealingly voyeuristic moment behind the scene. The artist challenges us. Curator: That’s the inherent tension between capturing the object’s aesthetic allure for sales and preserving a kind of transparency of material information. Editor: This visual fragment reveals both the intended appearance and the conditions that surround fashion production. I am more aware now of the power of its design than before. Curator: Precisely. I agree. Seeing the final product and the preliminary process adds depth to our viewing experience and it highlights the complex networks behind the making of even a seemingly simple accessory.