Wall Decoration c. 1940

Alvin Gully made this wall decoration with paint on paper; we don't know exactly when. I'm drawn to the pared-down palette of browns, blacks, and whites, it feels very earthy and humble. The paint is quite opaque, giving the piece a flat, graphic quality. Look closely and you'll notice how Gully built up the different shapes, the leaves and hearts, with simple strokes. It’s like he's saying, "Here's how you make a leaf, here's how you make a heart," breaking down the process. The texture of the paper adds a nice handmade feel too. I especially like the rhythmic pattern at the bottom, the way the wavy lines create a sense of movement. It reminds me of some of the abstract patterns you see in Gee’s Bend quilts, where the makers embrace improvisation and imperfection. This piece feels like part of that same conversation about art as a living, breathing thing.