Brick Sidewalk Tiles 1935 - 1942

Robert Gilson made this study of Brick Sidewalk Tiles sometime in the twentieth century. I love the process of artmaking that's been revealed here. The initial outline drawings, almost like architectural plans, become something else entirely when we see the finished tile. Look at how Gilson’s used the paint in the first tile, especially around the edges, to give it such texture. It feels almost sculptural, like he's really digging into the surface. It makes you think about the physical act of walking on these tiles, how many feet have trod upon this exact design over the years. You know, that kind of care and attention to detail reminds me of Agnes Martin. Both artists find something almost spiritual in simple forms and repetition. But where Martin is all about quiet transcendence, Gilson's got this real earthy quality. It's like he's saying, even the most ordinary things can be beautiful if you really look at them.