Wall Paper Border c. 1937

This is a gouache and graphite work on paper called 'Wall Paper Border' by John Garay, who lived from 1855 to 1995. Looking at those earthy reds and deep greens, I can imagine Garay carefully mixing his gouache, maybe in a small dish, adding water to get that perfect consistency. I wonder, did he get lost in the repetition of those Greek key patterns and circular motifs? There’s something meditative about repeating a form like that; a grounding feeling of the hand making the same mark over and over again. Like Agnes Martin's grids, or even Sol LeWitt’s structures, the act of repetition becomes a form of inquiry, a way of focusing attention. The texture looks smooth, almost velvety, which gouache can do when it's just right. You can see the hand of the artist, the precision, but also the slight variations that give it a human touch. We are all, as painters, deeply indebted to those who came before; we keep the conversation of art going across time.