Decorations on Reredos and Sanctuary Walls 1940

William Kieckhofel made this drawing of Decorations on Reredos and Sanctuary Walls with what looks like pencil and watercolor. The way he's built up the image from gentle marks reminds me that artmaking is really a process of layering and refining. The colors here are pastel and muted, like a faded memory. You can see the texture of the paper coming through the thin washes of color, giving the image a delicate, almost ethereal quality. Look at the columns, how the details are picked out with such precision. It makes me wonder about Kieckhofel's intentions. Is he trying to capture the grandeur of the space, or is he more interested in the intricate patterns and textures? There is a really nice contrast in the symmetry, how the balance is asymmetrical at the very top with the off-center starburst like image. This drawing reminds me of the work of Hilma af Klint, another artist who explored spiritual themes through abstract forms. Like Klint, Kieckhofel seems to be reaching for something beyond the visible world, using color and pattern to create a space for contemplation and reflection. Art is like an ongoing conversation, each artist building on the ideas of those who came before.