Patchwork Quilt 1935 - 1942

Elgin Moncure Styll made this watercolor drawing of a quilt, but we don't know exactly when. The first thing that catches my eye is the handmade quality, it is like looking at a piece of folk art. The colors, red, white, and green, are muted and earthy, like natural dyes. See how the quilt is divided into squares, triangles, and rectangles, a traditional patchwork pattern. The lines are straight, the shapes are clean, yet they are slightly off, which I love, it gives the quilt a real sense of movement. I love the way the lines of the stitching are visible, and how the artist has captured the texture of the fabric. In each section we see the lines suggesting the quilted effect. The red is especially interesting, there are darker lines throughout, perhaps to suggest the depth of the fabric, like an early form of Op Art! Looking at Styll’s quilt makes me think of Gee’s Bend quilts with their free form shapes and improvisation, but here we have the charm of this humble rendering. It reminds me that art is not just about grand statements, but also about the small, everyday things that make life beautiful.