Coverlet (Applique Quilt) c. 1936

This is Ruth Barnes' "Coverlet (Applique Quilt)," a drawing, and it’s interesting to consider it as a rendering of an object as opposed to the object itself. I think Barnes knew that the act of making is as important as the final product. There’s a tension between representation and abstraction, and I love the way it’s worked out in the quilted background and the bright central motif. The colors are laid down quite thinly, in washes, but they pop against the pale tan background. There’s a lot of texture suggested, even though the surface is quite flat. I keep coming back to the central shape, a deep blue hexagon, banded in gold. It’s like a portal or a window, something that draws the eye and contains everything else in the composition. This reminds me of the work of Joseph Yoakum, another artist who used simple materials to create complex and compelling images. Both artists embrace the process of artmaking, valuing exploration and experimentation over technical perfection. It’s this spirit of openness and discovery that makes their work so engaging, inviting us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.