Afghan Throw c. 1938

Erwin Stenzel made this Afghan Throw design, but we don’t know exactly when. It's a series of colorful botanical textile designs in a grid. Each square shows swirling leaves and blossoming buds in different arrangements. I see muted greens, blues, and pinks, a gentle palette. You can almost feel Stenzel’s hand moving across the page, patiently building up the patterns. I wonder if he worked from life, or from memory, translating the vitality of nature into these controlled arrangements. I bet Stenzel thought a lot about the relationship between art and craft. He was part of a conversation with William Morris and other Arts and Crafts designers. You could imagine these designs coming to life on a cozy blanket, wrapping you in a sense of warmth and beauty. Maybe all artists want to make a beautiful, warm blanket for the world.