Quilt (1 Section) c. 1936

This is "Quilt (1 Section)," made by Barnes, sometime between 1855 and 1995, we don't know exactly when. Looking at it, I immediately get a sense of someone working in a way that's both meticulous and kind of intuitive, you know? The colors are mostly muted reds, blues, and pinks, and the patterns feel homespun, like they’re drawn from memory or imagination rather than any kind of formal training. Notice that one floral motif, how it blooms out from the center? It gives the whole thing a sense of life and growth. You can almost feel the hand of the artist in each little hexagon. This piece reminds me of Gee's Bend quilts, where you get this amazing combination of formal geometry and improvisation. With Barnes, there’s this sense that each shape, each color choice, is a little decision, adding up to something bigger and more meaningful. Art isn't just about what you see, but how it makes you feel, and the memories and associations it stirs up.