Gordijn 1880 - 1949

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this curtain, or ‘Gordijn’, with dyed and woven linen in the late 19th or early 20th century. The colour palette is very muted, almost faded, like a memory. It's interesting to consider how something functional like a curtain can also be a work of art. The material itself is so present. You can almost feel the texture of the linen, the way the light catches on the woven pattern. It’s not trying to hide its process. Each little floral motif has its own subtle variations and imperfections. It's so clearly made by hand, and that’s what gives it its charm and warmth. Look closely at any one of those little flowers. See how the dye is slightly uneven? That’s where the beauty lies, in the imperfect, human touch. It reminds me a little of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, this embrace of the handmade and the decorative. But Nieuwenhuis brings his own sensibility to it. It's a reminder that art is everywhere, even in the things we use every day.