Yarn Picture c. 1941

This "Yarn Picture" by Edward Unger is made with yarn, probably in 1887, and depicts the estate of John Appleyard. I love the repetitive marks in this piece. It's like Unger is building the scene, stitch by stitch, almost obsessively, covering every inch of the surface. Look closely at the way he renders the trees, they are not just green blobs, but carefully arranged lines of yarn, each one a deliberate act of creation. The texture is amazing – you can almost feel the wool under your fingertips! And the colors, muted and earthy, give the whole scene a nostalgic, dreamlike quality. It reminds me of the work of Bill Traylor, another artist who used simple materials and repetitive gestures to create deeply personal and expressive images. Both artists show us that art isn't just about skill, it's about vision and commitment. Unger's yarn picture invites us to slow down, to appreciate the beauty in the everyday, and to recognize the power of art to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.