Upholstery Trim c. 1938

Fritz Boehmer made this study of "Upholstery Trim" with an attention to colour and detail that really speaks to the art of the handmade. These strips are so carefully rendered, it's as if Boehmer is inviting us into the intimate world of textiles. The top band, with its moody blues and reds, has these little roses or maybe they're pomegranate shapes, like a secret code. The way the colors are woven together reminds me of a pointillist painting, where each dab builds a whole. Then there’s that middle one, the one with the horizontal stripes, it's so calming, so ordered. And at the bottom, this fringe, all loosey-goosey and free. Thinking about how the detail in the bands above contrast with that playful fringe is a reminder that, in the world of art and design, it’s the attention to every detail that makes a piece resonate. It's not dissimilar to the weaving studies of Anni Albers, or the playful abstraction of Paul Klee's Bauhaus textiles, reminding us that even the most functional objects can be a site for artistic exploration and experimentation.