Coverlet c. 1940

This is a beautiful, small painting of a coverlet made by Cornelius Christoffels. It’s almost like a drawing, so precise and controlled. I imagine Christoffels taking immense pleasure in the sheer act of depiction, mimicking the woven threads of the original fabric with tiny brushstrokes. What patience! Did he want to preserve the memory of this textile or was he interested in the tension between representation and abstraction? The monochromatic palette and geometric grid feel so contemporary and modern. He is in conversation with other artists. Agnes Martin also explored the grid in subtle and complex ways. Christoffels’ little painting invites us to appreciate not only the beauty of folk art but also the artist’s desire to honor the work of others. We are all standing on each other’s shoulders, right?