Wallpaper c. 1939

This 'Wallpaper' design by Walter Doran is all about rhythm, a little like a musical score expressed through colour. The shapes are simple, but the way they repeat and connect creates a visual melody. Looking closely, you can see the paint isn't trying to hide anything. It’s pretty flat, not too thick, which lets the colours do the talking. The green is this moody, muted tone, a perfect backdrop for the gold and brown details that pop out, and it looks like it was applied with a fine brush, or perhaps even a printmaking technique. Notice the little teardrop shapes dangling from the scallop-like forms, each with its own little dot. It’s a playful touch, almost like a wink! This reminds me a little of Sonia Delaunay's textile designs, with that same sense of pattern and playful abstraction. Art is all about seeing what others have done, and then adding your own spin, right? There’s no single answer, just a lot of possibilities.