Zakdoek met een rand van gemengde kant met spoorrails en parelsnoertje — History & Facts
In the intricate layers of this textile artwork, a tapestry of solitude unravels, whispering tales of the past, each thread infused with a haunting sense of loneliness. Look to the center of the piece, where the delicate doily—crafted with painstaking care—draws your eye. The mixed lace, adorned with railway motifs and a string of pearls, juxtaposes softness against the starkness of metal and machinery. Notice how the colors, a muted palette of creams and grays, evoke nostalgia, while the lace’s intricate design creates a fragile beauty that defies its industrial references. Delve deeper into the symbolism held within the pearls, each bead representing moments of isolation—glistening yet distant, like memories tinged with melancholy.
The juxtaposition of the delicate lace against the harshness of the railway evokes a poignant commentary on the passage of time and the interplay of human experiences with the impersonal world. Here, loneliness is not merely an absence but an integral part of the narrative woven into the fabric. Created around 1880, this artwork emerged during a time of significant change in society, marked by industrialization and urbanization. Little is known of the artist, yet the work reflects a collective memory of the era, capturing the tension between the personal and the mechanized.
The lace, often associated with domesticity and femininity, contrasts sharply with the modernity of the railroad, revealing an artist deeply aware of the shifting realities of their time.
More Artworks by Unknown Artist
Browse all →
Ridder, Dood en Duivel
Unknown Artist

Shiva Nataraja
Unknown Artist

Portrait of Elizabeth I, Queen of England
Unknown Artist

Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman
Unknown Artist

Shiva Nataraja
Unknown Artist

The Tale of Genji
Unknown Artist

The Tale of Genji
Unknown Artist

Cong
Unknown Artist

The bodhisattva Maitreya
Unknown Artist

Teabowl with a 'hare's fur' glaze
Unknown Artist



