Chintz 1935 - 1942

Raymond Manupelli made this 'Chintz' print, and I'm imagining him with pen in hand, drawing around these forms. Look at this majestic bird—probably an eagle—perched in the middle, surrounded by all these colourful flowers. It's like a garden of the artist’s mind. The pinks and reds of the roses contrast with the blues and greens of the foliage, creating this vibrant little world. I like how the patterned nature of the eagle's feathers contrasts with the softer, organic forms of the flowers. I bet Manupelli was thinking about William Morris and those other folks who wanted to bring art into everyday life through textiles and wallpaper. Think about how these historical art practices feed into each other across time—it’s like a party where everyone is dressed in their own eccentric way! These artists remind us that painting is never really finished; it is a continuous conversation that evolves each time someone else picks up the brush.