Textile 1935 - 1942

This textile artwork by John Osbold has a mythical, dream-like quality to it, achieved through the light and fluid watercolor washes on the fabric. It's as if Osbold was chasing a feeling, letting the colors and figures emerge intuitively. I imagine Osbold, in his studio, carefully applying each layer of watercolor, watching how the colors bleed and blend on the fabric, almost like an early Pre-Raphaelite painting. The gentle blues and greens create a serene atmosphere, while the figures, with their loose outlines, seem to float in a timeless space. The woman’s robes are rendered with delicate brushstrokes which create a subtle, flowing texture. What is she doing? Is she chasing the sleeping figure? Or trying to wake them? Maybe Osbold was inspired by other artists of his time and wanted to create a tapestry that spoke to the human condition, to dreams, and the relationship between people and the world. It’s all an ongoing conversation of creativity.