Wall Painting 1939

This 'Wall Painting' by Hal Blakeley, which he made at some point between 1855 and 1995, uses a meticulous, almost obsessive approach to mark-making, like a meditation on pattern and color. It’s this dedication to process that really grabs me. Looking closely, you can see that the physicality of the materials – possibly watercolor or gouache, maybe even colored pencil – plays a huge role. The paint is applied thinly in layers to build up the patterns, giving the surface a slightly textured feel, almost like fabric. I'm drawn to the arch above the doorway, where Blakeley has swirled the colors together to create a marbled effect, contrasting with the rigid geometry elsewhere. It's like the whole composition is being held together by these contrasts. I’m reminded a little of Hilma af Klint’s early botanical drawings, in the way she used repetitive forms and symmetry to convey a sense of order. It’s a reminder that art doesn't need to be loud to be profound. Sometimes, it's in the quiet details and the artist's touch where the magic truly happens.