Crazy Quilt c. 1938

William Kieckhofel made this Crazy Quilt, of an unknown date, with coloured pencils and graphite on paper. The marks are laid down in neat rows, giving the impression of a Sampler, or maybe a tailor’s pattern book. I find myself particularly drawn to the texture of the paper, a warm pale grey, onto which the patterns sit. Each small motif has been carefully drawn, using delicate lines and a muted palette of red, green, yellow, and blue. Look closely and you can see how the artist has varied the pressure of the pencil to create a sense of depth and shadow in the zigzagging lines. Each section is a small, self-contained universe. My eye keeps getting drawn to the middle row of the central panel, where yellow vertical lines create a subtle rhythm. The motifs remind me of Cy Twombly's mark making and his fascination with creating a personal language of signs. Ultimately, the charm of the Crazy Quilt lies in its celebration of the simple, everyday act of drawing. It's about looking, thinking, and making – a process that invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the handmade.