Shaker Rug Bindings 1935 - 1942

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen made this study of Shaker Rug Bindings sometime in the 20th century using some kind of paint on paper, and it feels like she was really interested in how to build up a surface with repeated marks. What grabs me here is the real, almost touchable texture. You can almost feel the weave, right? Selmer-Larsen uses the paint to mimic the physicality of the woven material, capturing every little criss and cross. Look at the way she varies the colors, it’s not just flat blocks. Each tiny little gesture builds up to a bigger pattern. The third band down, with the orange and grey, is my favorite. I love how the colours are woven together, and those little touches of grey, like highlights, give it a real sense of depth. It's kind of like the way Agnes Martin builds up a painting with tiny, repetitive lines, but here, it's all about the material. Both artists, though, embrace the beauty of the imperfect, the handmade. It's not about perfection, it's about process.