Table Scarf c. 1937

This 'Table Scarf' was made by Barnes, who lived from 1855 to 1995, it's dimensions are approximately 35 by 26 centimeters. Isn't that an invitation to artmaking as a process? The texture here, though depicted on paper, feels incredibly tactile. The artist's hand is so evident in the way she's rendered embroidery. I can imagine someone patiently stitching, each loop and knot a tiny act of devotion. Look at the little blue bird sitting atop the plant with its yellow berries. Those colours pop, don't they? I can imagine the artist using simple tools, a needle and thread, to build up these forms. The colours are pure, almost naive, but there's a sophisticated understanding of composition at play here. There's a charm to this piece, it speaks to the idea that art doesn't need to be complicated to be deeply moving. It reminds me a little of the work of Bill Traylor, who also found profound beauty in the everyday. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions we ask and the spaces we create in the process.