Historical Printed Textile c. 1940

This is Dorothy Dwin’s ‘Historical Printed Textile’, and I’m struck by the meeting of design and intuition in the piece. The application of color is so even it feels like the image has been printed, making it even more compelling. I love the way this hints at the way artmaking is both intentional and a journey of discovery. The texture, color, and surface of this piece invite a close look. The two triangular shapes in Dwin's piece are bold and the botanical pattern, almost like a cut and paste collage, gives the impression that the material may have been applied using stencils or sponges. The edges of the triangles almost appear fuzzy or slightly misaligned as though the colors are bleeding or as if the image is vibrating. The negative space surrounding the two triangles gives the impression of a canvas or a fabric. It is a reminder of how art often blurs the line between representation and reality. It makes me think of the work of Al Loving, particularly his use of bold shapes. Art is an ongoing visual conversation across time, full of ambiguity and various interpretations.