Stencil Wall Decoration c. 1936

This is Ray Holden's Stencil Wall Decoration. It presents us with stenciled designs in green and red, dominated by stylized floral motifs arranged as friezes and vase arrangements. The vase of flowers—such a simple domestic motif—echoes through the ages, connecting us to ancient Minoan frescoes where vases teem with life, promising renewal. This symbol predates classical antiquity and still resonates in our collective memory. It points to the vessel as a symbol for life, nourishment and abundance. The arrangement of the flowers, though simple, strikes a chord deep within us. Much like the carefully arranged bouquets in Dutch still life paintings, the arrangement has the power to evoke a sense of harmony and order but also fragility. Consider the enduring, cyclical nature of this symbol; the constant, powerful return of life represented by the flower. Holden's stencil is not merely decoration, it is a testament to the persistent power of images across time.