Crewel embroidery 1935 - 1942

Frank Maurer created this crewel embroidery. I can imagine him absorbed in the gentle rhythm of the needle, pushing thread through fabric to conjure forth these blue daisies against a warm yellow backdrop. It is a dance of color and texture, each stitch building up the image, a kind of painting with thread. I wonder what Maurer was thinking as he worked? I can imagine his delight in building up the soft textures and layering the hues to create a harmonious balance. The paint appears to have been applied in thin, translucent washes. The background hums with light. There's something so intimate about this work. It feels like a quiet conversation between the artist and the material, a testament to the enduring power of observation and the joy of creative expression. It reminds me of other needlework artists like… well, can’t think of one right now! But it's all connected, this act of making, of seeing, of feeling with our hands.