Tablecloth c. 1937

Florence Truelson made this rendering of a tablecloth, but when, we don't know exactly. The burgundy and gold colors and the textures of velvet and fringe have a kind of luscious formality. I imagine Florence experimenting with watercolor washes to get that deep plushy look. She probably thought a lot about home decor, about how we live with objects. Did she love the way a tablecloth can transform a room? Did she study the way the light hits the folds, the way the fringe sways? I like to imagine her trying to capture these ephemeral qualities, chasing after the essence of the object. This makes me think of other artists, like Vanessa Bell and her interiors. In the end, this tablecloth is an inspiration, a reminder that art is everywhere, in the everyday, if you just take the time to look.