Coverlet c. 1937

This is a watercolor and graphite drawing of a coverlet made by Cornelius Christoffels, who lived from 1879 to 1960. The red and white image jumps out with its repeating patterns of birds, vases and buildings. Looking closely, you can see the weave of the fabric and the tiny details rendered in red. Notice how the red bleeds slightly into the surrounding white, creating a soft, diffused effect. There’s a sense of meticulousness here, a dedication to capturing every detail of the coverlet's design. I find it really interesting how the artist has created a texture that's both flat and layered, as if he’s trying to capture the feeling of the fabric as much as its appearance. It puts me in mind of the work of someone like Ree Morton, who worked with found materials to create sculptures that had a similarly handmade, slightly wonky quality. Both artists seem interested in exploring the tension between representation and abstraction, and in embracing the imperfections of the creative process.