Carpet c. 1936

George Loughridge made this painting, titled ‘Carpet’, using watercolor and graphite on paper. I love the dense, all-over pattern and the way the colours evoke a kind of faded grandeur. Imagine Loughridge, brush in hand, carefully building up the layers of watercolor to create the illusion of depth and texture. What was he thinking as he painted each tiny flower and leaf? There's a real tenderness in the way he renders the blooms, but also a sense of formality in the overall composition, maybe recalling earlier traditions of floral design. It’s like he's both celebrating the beauty of nature and imposing a certain order onto it. The deep reds and greens create such a rich visual experience, almost like stepping into a hidden garden. Thinking of other artists, I am reminded of William Morris and his deep immersion into the decorative possibilities of the natural world. In the end, artists are constantly riffing off one another. Looking at paintings across time is like overhearing a great conversation, ever-evolving and open to endless interpretation.