Striped Kersey c. 1937

William Parkinson made this, Striped Kersey, a small-scale painting, with what looks like graphite and watercolor. It depicts what I think is a swatch of striped woolen cloth. I can imagine Parkinson being deeply immersed in the act of observation, trying to capture the texture and pattern of the kersey with precision and care. I love the way the blue stripes pulsate against the pale, unbleached wool tone, creating a quiet, rhythmic visual experience. It reminds me of the paintings of Agnes Martin, who I feel like was trying to do a similar thing of noticing the beauty of the simplest and most familiar things. The delicate rendering of the woven threads, and the slightly frayed edges of the fabric, really makes me feel like I could reach out and touch it. This is a great example of how everyday life can be turned into art, and how artists are constantly building on the work of their predecessors, finding inspiration in unexpected places. For me, this is more than just a representation of a piece of cloth; it's a meditation on texture, form, and the act of seeing itself.