Untitled 

Michel Carrade made this painting with oil on canvas. These are, of course, traditional art materials. At first glance, the simple bands of color may seem easy, but the material itself complicates the image. With the oil paints, Carrade captures a tactile quality, with edges that are soft and blurred. The paint itself is also mutable, receptive to light and shadow. Look closely, and you'll notice variations in the application of the paint. Thick and opaque in some areas, and thinner in others, the colors blend and bleed into each other. But why this emphasis on vertical bands of color? The format is reminiscent of weaving and textile production, specifically the warp and weft of the loom. While the artist worked alone in a studio, here we can appreciate the connection to collective forms of labor, like the textile industry. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that the simplest things can be deceptively complex. In considering the material qualities of Carrade's painting, we appreciate the many ways that art and craft can intersect.