Hitchcock Chair c. 1940

Genevieve Sherlock made this painting of a Hitchcock Chair, but when, and with what, we don’t know exactly. What I love about this piece is how Sherlock uses a limited color palette and simple shapes to create something really striking. It's like the folk art version of a Josef Albers color study, you know? The painting is mostly black, but the design is a pop of yellow, green and red-brown. Look at how the different elements balance each other out, like the berries and leaves on either side. There's a clear sense of symmetry, but it's not rigid or stuffy; the hand-painted quality gives it a warmth and personality. It reminds me of other self taught artists like Bill Traylor, someone who was also interested in creating something decorative from simple materials. Ultimately, what matters is how the artwork makes you feel, and this one just feels good.