Adam & Eve Embroidered Picture c. 1938

This is Martha Elliot's embroidered Adam & Eve picture, and it looks like it was stitched with a lot of care and a playful spirit. The colors are soft, almost faded, which gives it a dreamy, timeless feel. You can see the stitches, they're not trying to disappear, which makes the whole scene feel very handmade and intimate, like a story told by someone who really wants you to listen. I like the way the figures are rendered in a simple way, a limited range of stitches, it makes them seem vulnerable. The leaves on the tree of knowledge are different colors; some are blue. It's like Elliot is using color to hint at the complexity and mixed feelings in this biblical tale. Looking at this piece, I'm reminded of how folk art and outsider art often embrace imperfection, and that's where so much of the beauty lies. It makes me think of Bill Traylor; his simple, direct style shares this kind of unaffected vision. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art doesn't need to be polished to be profound.