Quilted Chest Protection c. 1940

Mary Fitzgerald made this chest protector—or at least, this rendering of it—in graphite and colored pencil. The quilted texture looks so soft, but somehow rigid at the same time. I can almost feel the maker’s hands guiding the needle, stitching the fabric together, row by row. What was she thinking about as she was making it? Maybe she was thinking about keeping someone safe or warm. I feel like the artist is showing us how the labor of everyday life can be a form of care. This dark, velvety surface also reminds me of the Black Square by Malevich, or Ad Reinhardt’s black paintings. I notice the quilted surface resolves into a single monogram in the center, the letter "R" – a moment of personalization, and a little flourish of individual expression. I wonder about the relationship between craft and fine art. Mary Fitzgerald makes me consider how artists build on one another's ideas, working across time, inspiring each other, and making new things.