Beadwork 1935

Melita Hofmann made this drawing of beadwork with pencil on December 2nd, 1935. I love how she's built up these patterns, like thinking through making. It's not a slick surface, but a layered thing, almost like revisions. There's so much to consider in how the texture works. The beads have this cool, raised quality, even in a drawing. Hofmann’s drawing makes me think about how beadwork isn’t just about decoration, but about touch and rhythm. Look at the little spirals – they're like tiny universes, contained yet infinite. The colors, too, are interesting. That muted palette makes it feel historical but also timeless. It reminds me a little of some of the drawings of Alfred Jensen, though his are more geometric. Both, however, have this sense of mapping something out, of art as a form of knowledge. It’s a reminder that art can be about asking questions, not just giving answers.