Hooked Rug c. 1936

This "Hooked Rug" was created by Barnes, who lived from 1855 to 1995, and it's an image of a rug, so we have art *of* art. The tiny marks, side by side, in an all-over pattern, feel very process-oriented, like Barnes was mapping the rug one stitch at a time. The color palette is so charming. It's a bit muted, a little aged, like it's been loved for generations. I'm really drawn to the border: that solid band of green-blue. It grounds the whole piece, creating a container for all those delicate pink roses. It's like Barnes is saying, "Here's the edge, here's where the rug ends, but the beauty, the craft, it just keeps going." It reminds me of some of the work of Ree Morton, that shares a similar interest in the everyday object and a sensitivity to color. Art is always this conversation, isn't it? We're all just talking to each other across time.