Shaker Woman's Money Bag c. 1936

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen’s rendering of a Shaker Woman’s Money Bag is rendered in what appears to be watercolor and pencil on paper. I am compelled by the blue stripes that run down the length of the bag and the way the artist has given the edges a delicate touch of blue. The painting feels very considered, each stripe carefully placed, a quiet meditation on a functional object. I can imagine Selmer-Larsen, in her studio, contemplating the simple elegance of Shaker design. What do you think she was thinking when she made it? Was she struck by its beauty, or its utility, or both? Selmer-Larsen’s work often focuses on the documentation of material culture, and there's a sense of preservation in her careful strokes. The materiality of the money bag is also emphasized by the weave of the fabric. This piece is both a record and a reverie. It’s as if she's inviting us to appreciate the artistry in everyday objects. It reminds us that artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and medium.