Crewel Wall Hanging c. 1937

This *Crewel Wall Hanging* by Isabelle De Strange is a textile work, probably made with dyed wool on a woven ground. The whole thing has a soft, gentle feel. Look closely, and you can see how the diagonal hatching of the background sets up a kind of visual vibration, with the floral arrangement sitting on top. It’s the kind of piece that celebrates process and the handmade. The stitches aren't trying to hide themselves. They’re right there, like brushstrokes in a painting. See the way the vase is outlined in simple blue, and then filled in with these tiny, almost haphazard flowers? It's charming. The colors themselves are muted and earthy - pinks, blues, greens and browns which creates this wonderfully humble and intimate feeling. It reminds me a bit of some of the naive painters, like Henri Rousseau, but with thread instead of paint. De Strange is playing with this tension between representation and abstraction, and that’s what keeps you looking. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing experiment, and we’re all invited to join in.