Broekje van katoen, met korte pijpen en vetertje c. 1910

This garment, Broekje van katoen, met korte pijpen en vetertje, was made by P. Titjen-Baas with cotton. It's interesting how such a functional thing can become art, right? The texture looks so delicate. You can almost feel the softness of the cotton. It's pretty sheer, and that makes me think about vulnerability, like you could see right through it. I like the simple, clean lines, and the little lace trim adds a touch of sweetness, but it’s also frayed, so you know it’s lived a life. Look at how the fabric is sewn, those tiny stitches must have taken forever! You can see the process, the hand of the maker. It reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s grids, the quiet, repetitive labor, the meditation on the grid, but in fabric. It’s like Titjen-Baas is saying something deep about care, time, and attention. Who knew a pair of cotton shorts could do that?