Embroidered Cuff c. 1937

Erwin Schwabe made this drawing of an embroidered cuff, using graphite, maybe sometime in the early to mid twentieth century. Just look at the detail and the patience! I can imagine Schwabe, his brow furrowed in concentration, meticulously rendering each tiny stitch, each delicate curve of the floral pattern. You can see the layering of marks, the slight variations in tone that create a sense of depth and texture. The lace edge is so light it almost melts into the paper. It’s amazing how he has captured not just the look of the cuff, but also its feel, it's weight. This piece reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in the repetitive mark making, but also in the delicate nature of the piece, and the way it manages to make something quite ordinary, extraordinary. And it also reminds me that as artists we’re all in this ongoing conversation.