Shaker Woman's Money Bag c. 1936

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen painted this Shaker Woman's Money Bag in the twentieth century, using watercolor and graphite on paper. What strikes me first is how the evenness of the stripes and the symmetry of the bag give a sense of order and calm, reflecting the Shaker values of simplicity and utility. The graphite under-drawing gives the stripes a wonderful textured quality, like the weave of fabric, while the delicate washes of color create a sense of depth. It's as if Selmer-Larsen is trying to capture the very essence of the Shaker aesthetic: functional, beautiful, and thoughtfully made. The stitching details around the border feel particularly intimate. You can almost see her hand at work, carefully rendering each stitch with precision and care. Selmer-Larsen had a long career working as an artist for the Index of American Design, documenting material culture across the United States. Like the work of Charles Demuth, who also worked in watercolour, there is a simplicity and boldness to the design here, combined with a quiet sensitivity.