Printed Textile 1940

This printed textile was made by Dorothy Dwin sometime in the 20th century. It's got this faded, almost sepia tone that gives it an antique feel, like a memory slowly fading. Look at the way the figures are arranged among the foliage, a tennis match unfolding amidst giant blooms. The whole thing has a dreamlike quality, the details obscured but the overall impression vivid. It reminds me of some of my own paintings – the way the composition is built up, layer by layer, with each element contributing to the overall feeling. There is a figure reclining in a hammock, it's a lovely little detail, you might almost miss it! This piece feels related to the earlier work of someone like Édouard Vuillard, who was so good at capturing intimate scenes with complex patterns. What a lovely conversation between artworks this piece makes!