Ecclesiastical Vestment c. 1937

Syrena Swanson made this image of an Ecclesiastical Vestment, we don't know exactly when, using what looks like watercolor. The palette here is all soft and muted, with these beautiful floral motifs that remind me of folk art. The application of color is smooth and precise, there is a real sense of care in the way the artist has handled the paint and applied the colours. Look closely at the trim around the edge of the vestment. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric, the way Swanson uses delicate hatching to suggest the folds and gathers. It is a patient and meditative process. Swanson lived a long life and I can’t help wondering whether she made other artworks or if this was a singular work. It puts me in mind of Hilma af Klint, another artist who had an interest in spiritualism and whose work embraced a kind of symbolic language, making for a beautiful conversation piece across time. Ultimately, art is about possibility, and Swanson’s piece reminds us to embrace the unknown.