Stencilled Wall (Detail) c. 1937

This is Ray Holden's 'Stencilled Wall (Detail)'. It's hard to know exactly when he made it, but what a beautiful study in applied art! I love the way the roses and foliage climb up the canvas like a vine, interspersed with bright-red accents. The gray color palette and the pattern at the top have a somber but dignified mood. I really do wonder about this piece, like, what was Holden thinking when he was making it? Perhaps he considered the historical and cultural meanings associated with floral motifs, or maybe he was simply trying to create an eye-pleasing design, thinking about how this pattern might fill a whole room with beauty. Painting is like having a conversation, both with yourself and with all the artists of the past, each one informing the other's imagination. What is certain is that this image offers us all a moment of contemplation. It’s about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, and it is up to each of us to interpret and find meaning within it.