Quilt (Crib Quilt) 1935 - 1942

This "Quilt (Crib Quilt)" was made by Francis Law Durand, who lived from 1855 to 1995; it's a watercolor and graphite on paper. There's a sense of tenderness and care in the way the artist has rendered each square, in this imagined patchwork design. I can picture them hunched over their desk, patiently filling each shape with shades of red, pink, and gray. I love the way the squares create a kind of rhythm across the surface, like a visual lullaby. The patterns in the squares are evocative of the "Compass Rose" quilt pattern. This work resonates with the quilts made by Rosie Lee Tompkins, who used a similar approach to abstraction and pattern-making with gorgeous color schemes. And that makes me think about the way artists are in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time, and inspiring each other’s creativity. With this watercolor and graphite on paper, Durand offers us an object of comfort and beauty, reminding us of the power of art to soothe and inspire.