Pierced Metal Screen from Confessional c. 1936

Geoffrey Holt's 'Pierced Metal Screen from Confessional' is a watercolor on paper, an intriguing depiction of a metal screen. The palette is muted, almost monochromatic—browns and tans. I imagine Holt carefully studying the surface, transcribing each perforation with delicate precision. It’s a kind of reverse painting, where the absence of material defines the image. I wonder what compelled Holt to paint this particular object? Was it the pattern, the way light filtered through the holes, or something else? Perhaps he saw something beautiful in this mundane object, something worth preserving on paper. The circles and cross shapes created by the perforations speak to a history of ornament and function. It reminds me of the way Agnes Martin approached the grid, finding endless possibilities within a seemingly limited structure. It’s a quiet piece, inviting contemplation and encouraging us to look closer at the things we often overlook.