Bundle Handkerchief c. 1936

Alfred Denghausen made this 'Bundle Handkerchief' on an unknown date using colored pencil, watercolor and graphite. The grid is a classic, but Denghausen’s hand makes it feel so personal, almost like a diary entry. The texture is fascinating. You can see the layering of the colors, the way the graphite gives a soft, almost fuzzy edge to each square. The reds and blues aren’t shouting, they’re whispering, creating this intimate, quiet space. Notice that little blotch of brown in the top right corner; it feels like a signature, an accidental affirmation of the artist’s presence. It brings the whole thing to life, a reminder that art is made by people, not machines. This handkerchief makes me think of Agnes Martin’s grids, but with a folksy twist. Like Martin, Denghausen embraces imperfection, reminding us that beauty can be found in the simplest, most unassuming of things.