Autographed Quilt c. 1940

This 'Autographed Quilt', made by Margaret Linsley, is a drawing of a quilt design, and it's all about process. The medium is simple, like folk art, but the concept is rich. Look at how the different blocks are filled in – one with tight, nervous lines, another with a bold paisley. The pink cross that holds it all together is a sea of tiny, repetitive strokes, a real contrast to the open white spaces. It's as though Linsley is working through her ideas, testing out different patterns and textures. There's no attempt to hide the hand; every mark is visible, honest. It reminds me of the quilts of Gee's Bend, those incredible, improvisational masterpieces. Here, the interplay of order and chaos, of control and letting go, speaks to the beautiful ambiguity that art embraces. It's not about perfection; it's about the journey, the conversation, the making.