Stencilled Wall (Detail) c. 1937

Ray Holden made this decorative stencil design, sometime between 1855 and 1995, using watercolor, graphite and paper. I think with stencils, there’s always this tension between the rigidity of the form and the freedom of the artist to play within those lines. Holden's piece has a certain quality of flatness. The colours are muted – soft greys and pinks – and give the image a subdued, almost ghostly presence. Look at the way the leaves are rendered: each one a separate, defined shape, but together forming a delicate, climbing vine. There’s a balance between precision and looseness, order and spontaneity. My eye is drawn to the tiny flecks of red, scattered among the leaves. They're a small detail, but they add a spark of energy, a sense of life that enlivens the whole composition. This makes me think of other artists who use repetition and pattern to create a sense of rhythm, like some of the textile designs of William Morris. Ultimately, art is like a conversation, a continuous exchange of ideas across time.