Printed Textile c. 1941

This printed textile, by Ernest Capaldo, probably made in the middle of the 20th century, feels really inviting, almost like a cozy blanket. The color palette is limited to reds and grays, which gives it a playful charm. Looking at the surface, I am struck by how the red bleeds out across the printed surface. It’s so interesting when you consider how the material absorbs the color, how it almost seems to work with the design. Take the corner with the white horse in the middle; the way the red seeps into the white ground makes the animal look like it's dissolving into the flowers, which is beautiful. Capaldo's work reminds me a little of Raoul Dufy, with its similar use of color and pattern. But Capaldo has his own unique voice here. He shows us that art doesn't always have to be about precision; sometimes, it's about embracing the unpredictable nature of the materials.