Printed Cotton c. 1937

This printed cotton, made by Julie C. Brush, probably involved carving or engraving a block, inking it, and then pressing it onto the fabric—a dance of repetition and slight variation. I imagine Brush carefully aligning each print, maybe even embracing the little imperfections that give it a handmade feel. The design itself, with its little flower-like bursts, has a kind of quirky charm, don't you think? Those radial dashes of red and brown might have been the result of a deliberate plan, or perhaps a happy accident during the printing process. I can feel her, standing over a table, pushing down on a block, pulling it up, and seeing how the image comes to life. You can almost feel the artist thinking, "How can I make this more alive, more interesting?" Textile design is such an interesting art form, and it involves this push and pull between structure and improvisation. Just like painting, it's all about embracing those happy accidents. Each artist is in an ongoing conversation.