Red and White Table Napkin c. 1939

Arthur G. Merkley made this "Red and White Table Napkin" sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like watercolor or gouache. Look how the red sort of vibrates against the white, giving the whole thing a lively buzz. The level of detail is amazing! Each little swirl and leaf is carefully rendered, making you wonder about the artist's process. I love how the central bird is framed by the diamond shape, almost like a little stage. The red isn’t flat; it has a subtle texture, like the fabric it’s meant to represent. If you zoom in, you can almost see the tiny strokes of the brush. The way the artist has created the illusion of depth and texture with simple marks reminds me of the obsessive detail in some outsider art. Think of someone like Henry Darger, lost in their own world, creating intricate patterns and stories. Art's this ongoing conversation, right? Each piece a response to what came before, and a whisper to what might follow.