Coverlet c. 1936

This “Coverlet” design was created by Ruth Barnes, sometime between 1855 and 1995, in pen and ink on paper. Look at those blue, meandering lines; they remind me of Cy Twombly, except instead of scribbles they’re these floral arabesques, like botanical doodles springing from Barnes’ imagination. I can picture her, maybe on a sunny afternoon, letting the ink flow, each stroke a tiny dance between control and chance. It's interesting to think about process. Did she have a clear vision from the start, or did the design emerge organically, one curve leading to another? Maybe she saw some art from the past and then ran with it – I think of the Arts and Crafts movement and its celebration of handmade and decorative art. These kind of designs are never really out of style; they’re always there in the background, waiting for someone to pick them up and bring them to life again.