Magdalena Abakanowicz: A Feminine Force in a Brutalist World
- Rianne van der Steen
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 11
Only after my twelfth birthday did I have a bedroom with a window.
Each night I would duck beneath a heavy oak beam to reach my bed. And there it was, the window, opening onto a wide view of the green landscapes surrounding Den Bosch and, in sharp contrast, the concrete tower of the provincial government building: a brutalist creation by architect Hugo Maaskant.
Yesterday, I cycled there with my parents to see a monumental artwork that has hung in that building for fifty years: Bois le Duc by Magdalena Abakanowicz, The Duke’s Forest. On the way, my father recalled how vividly he remembered the endless lorries delivering concrete to construct the province house. For the first time, we were going to enter this building.
Inside, the vast and rather austere council chamber is softened by Abakanowicz’s woven giant, 7 by 22 metres of natural fibres: wool, horsehair, sisal. Nineteen panels suspended in space. The contrast with the cold geometry of the surroundings is striking. Inspired by nature, it overwhelms the visitor with enlarged details of a primeval forest rendered in textile. Earthy tones, layered textures, irregular surfaces, every detail bearing the spirit of the 1970s.
What moves me most is how Abakanowicz brought a feminine softness into such a masculine, concrete space. A sense of protection, of closeness, of nature’s rhythm, quietly holding its own against steel and glass. Commissioned for this place more than fifty years ago, and still standing strong, it proves how design, when created with intention, can outlast both time and trends.
This artwork is only on display this summer, as part of a joint exhibition with the TextielMuseum and the Noordbrabants Museum.
I create personal designs for clients. I listen, translate, and shape their wishes into garments that hold meaning, pieces that carry both strength and softness, both structure and soul. Like Bois le Duc, they are created for a moment, but designed to endure.
If you are looking for something special made just for you, a garment that reflects who you are and what you want to embody, I would love to create it with you.
