Homespun Coverlet c. 1940

This Homespun Coverlet design was made by Cornelius Christoffels using watercolor and graphite on paper. The image has this amazing stippled effect which makes the bright red pop, it's as if the artist has slowly built the image up with tiny dots. The red isn't flat; it shifts and moves. It's almost like Christoffels is thinking through the red, trying to find its most lively form. I'm drawn to the curlicue shapes, because the artist seems to allow them to unfurl gradually. It's a slow reveal, a kind of dance. You can imagine the artist's hand moving back and forth, making each individual mark. This approach reminds me of the work of Anni Albers, who explored the grid through weaving. The coverlet is an intimate act, and the painting captures that beautifully, the idea of making something to keep you warm.