Wall Paper Sample c. 1940

Betty Jacob made this ‘Wall Paper Sample’ sometime in the 20th Century, using watercolors to give us a glimpse into her world. I love the way she’s captured these scenes with such simple strokes and colours, it’s as if she was painting a dream. Did she do it from memory or imagination? She’s laid the pigment so thinly, the figures and landscapes feel almost ghost-like, floating on the surface. There's such a charming naivety, especially in the way she renders the figures and flowers. The man in the top hat and the bouquet of daffodils almost feel as if they have emerged from a children’s book. This piece feels like a conversation starter, like all paintings should be, inviting us to reflect on time, memory, and the simple joys of life. It reminds me of the work of outsider artists who embrace the raw and unpolished, reminding us of the beauty in the everyday.