Panel c. 1930s

This anonymous panel in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, well, it’s a trip. Look at how those fluid shapes repeat, like echoes in a hall of mirrors. The brushstrokes and the color palette create an intuitive process, like the artist was feeling their way through a sensory experience. The brown background is textured, like tree bark or reptile skin, really earthy. Then these bright green and gold brushstrokes cut through it, kind of like quick, instinctive gestures. It’s interesting how those curving brushstrokes are laid on top of each other, kind of creating a floating effect. The lines are not perfect, they overlap and vary in thickness. I wonder if this was meant as a design? The repetition gives it a kind of textile vibe. It reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint's work. And ultimately, art is a conversation, right? It's all about taking what's there, and making it new.