Shaker Tablecloth c. 1936

This Shaker Tablecloth, by George Constantine, is a geometric study made with graphite on paper. The subtle gradations of grey, the almost imperceptible shifts in tone, speak to the process involved in its creation. It’s all about mark-making and repetition. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the graphite on the paper. The diamonds, formed by lines that cross and meet, create an all-over pattern. No one diamond is quite the same, but each mark contributes to the overall composition. I’m drawn to the irregularities, the places where the lines wobble or thicken. It feels deeply human. This piece reminds me of the textile works of Anni Albers, another artist who found beauty in the grid and the handmade, both artists revealing to us the extraordinary potential of simple materials and forms. In the end, art is an ongoing conversation, full of questions more than answers.