Purse c. 1937

This is Mabel Ritter’s ‘Purse,’ and it's not clear when exactly she made it or with what, but the effect is just so charming! I love how the design is built up from these tiny little marks, each one meticulously placed. Looking closely, you can see the grid-like structure that gives the work its strength. It’s a bit like pixel art, where each square contributes to the overall image, but here, the effect is warmer, more human. The colors—a mix of soft pinks, greens, and blues—give the piece a cheerful, almost naive quality. See the bottom border? It has this little landscape with trees and buildings. Each element is reduced to its simplest form, giving the work an appealing, folksy feel. Ritter reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, in that both artists use simplified forms and symbols to create worlds that feel deeply personal. It's a lovely reminder that art doesn't always need to be complicated to be profound.