Baby's Nightgown c. 1937

Maud M. Holme made this watercolour painting of a ‘Baby’s Nightgown’. I'm thinking about her as she painted, how she built up those colours on the page. There’s a delicacy in the washes she’s created, with soft hues and an attentive eye for detail, carefully rendering the folds and gentle pattern of the fabric. It’s like she’s feeling the cloth between her fingers. The details around the edges are so precise, like a warm embrace. I’m fascinated by the samples down at the bottom of the page, different versions of the pattern or possible alternatives. You know, Holme’s interest in design reminds me of Anni Albers’ weavings; both artists are thinking through colour and form with textiles. I like to imagine both of them in conversation, a dialogue that transcends time, as they share their creative processes and inspire each other’s work. For me, this painting is an invitation to reflect on the fleeting nature of time, on memory, and the enduring power of art to capture a moment.