Wall Paper Border c. 1937

Alfonso Umana made this "Wall Paper Border" out of paint on paper. I love how he's working with repetition, with a kind of imperfect regularity. The texture is so intriguing; it’s not trying to hide the hand of the artist. You can see the brushstrokes, the little variations in the paint thickness. The red is so alive, it vibrates against the gold and black. Look at the little fleur-de-lis shapes, how they're not quite perfect, giving the whole thing a lively, handmade feel. The top layer is like some kind of ancient frieze, which makes me think of Guston's late work in some ways. This piece feels like a study, an exploration of pattern and color. It embraces the beauty of imperfection, reminding us that art is a process, a conversation, not a fixed statement.