Material Woven from Cat-tails c. 1935

Melita Hofmann made this textile design, "Material Woven from Cat-tails," likely on paper and with graphite. There's a real sense of time and labor involved, whether weaving or drawing. It reminds me that the best art often comes from, and returns to, process. What I love here is how humble the materials are – a simple pattern of diamonds and zig-zags, almost childlike. There’s such a directness to the marks, you can practically feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, carefully building up these intricate textures. The color is muted, almost monochrome, which only adds to the sense of quiet contemplation. But within those constraints, there's also a real sense of play, as she works with slightly different variations on the same theme. It reminds me of the work of Hilma af Klint, who also explored spiritual and symbolic forms through simple shapes and colors. And like Klint, Hofmann embraces ambiguity. This piece is like a visual mantra, a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout to be heard.