Glazed Chintz c. 1936

Edmond W. Brown made this textile design, Glazed Chintz, using watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil. Isn’t it incredible how Brown captured a whole world on this small piece of paper? He knew that his art would become a textile, an object that would be touched and looked at and used in the daily lives of others. Look at those little birds! They are the central motif and remind me of ones in antique wallpaper. Maybe they sat singing on his windowsill as he worked. And the pinks and greens of the leaves and flowers create a cheerful, cozy feeling. I imagine Brown in his studio, sleeves rolled up, trying out different colors and patterns. Each stroke, a decision, a tiny revolution in the world of the image. The flowers and butterflies he paints connect him to the work of other artists such as William Morris and other makers of textiles and wallpapers. I bet they all felt that same surge of energy as they brought something new into the world. It’s like they’re all chatting across time through their art.