Textile Print c. 1938

This textile print, by Ralph M. Lewis, feels like a study in how simple lines and colors can create complex patterns. The process here seems straightforward: vertical stripes meet horizontal ones, but the effect is anything but simple. I'm drawn to the earthy palette—browns, greens, and creams—it’s as though Lewis found his colors in nature, and I love how these colors interact. Take, for example, the way the green stripes stand out against the checked pattern, disrupting the regularity and adding a touch of unexpected energy. You can almost feel the back and forth as he built this. This reminds me a bit of the work of Anni Albers, another artist who explored the intersection of weaving and art. Like Albers, Lewis shows us that textiles aren’t just about utility. They’re about seeing, thinking, and feeling in new ways. It’s a reminder that art is everywhere, even in the patterns we wear.