Wall Paper Border c. 1936

Editor: This is "Wall Paper Border" by Alfonso Umana, created around 1936. It's a watercolor drawing, and I’m struck by how crisp and clean the design is, almost mathematical, but there’s a handmade quality too. What catches your eye? Curator: It whispers to me of dreams, doesn’t it? I find it like a forgotten song from the '30s, a jazz age echo. The blue, particularly. It's bold but somehow calming. That stylized interlinked pattern is trying so hard to speak! I almost wonder if it's inspired by oceanic patterns, those little stylized droplets… Don't you find yourself searching for hidden figures in the patterns sometimes? Editor: Absolutely. Is it a typical example of Art Deco? Curator: Yes, in that it borrows from simplified geometry and strong, clean color blocks to create something mass producible, for home decor. But there's a delicacy here in the watercolour, which most wallpaper wouldn’t usually have! And do you feel, as I do, that tiny echo of ancient Egyptian ornament, those bands and colours. Where do you imagine it, pasted up on someone’s walls? Editor: Maybe in a stylish bathroom or a child's room, brightening the space. But considering its age, the colours have stood the test of time really well. I didn't expect such boldness from the '30s. Curator: It really is, though, isn't it? Something of a tiny rebellion shouting "decorate" against the pale greys of that time. It just goes to show, looking closer always reveals unexpected boldness, doesn’t it? Editor: I'll certainly look more closely next time, for rebellious borders.