Fragment of Shaker Hall Rug c. 1937

Charles Goodwin made this little study, "Fragment of Shaker Hall Rug," with, I'm guessing, watercolor, and maybe some colored pencil. I can imagine him thinking, well, this is a study of texture and colour, but maybe also this act of drawing, copying, and registration is an act of love. I'm looking at this sort of damaged area to the left. I imagine Goodwin wanting to lovingly map out all those frays and breaks and tears. The colors are so muted and earthy. There is a strong sense of care and preservation. It feels very intimate. You know, it kind of reminds me of a Van Gogh shoe painting. Maybe it's not so much about the thing itself, but the reverence we bring to the act of looking and the act of making. That’s where the meaning resides, right?