Printed Textile: Genre Scene c. 1939

This printed textile, a genre scene, was made by Michael Trekur. Look at the way he’s created this whole world with what seems like simple marks. The color palette is muted, almost like a faded memory, but it's not about perfection. It’s about the process, the layering, the building up of an image from almost nothing. You can see the texture of the fabric coming through, which gives the whole scene a kind of raw, unfiltered feel. The red of the house and the horse-drawn carriage really pops, doesn’t it? Speaking of that carriage, see how it's packed with people, almost like a little stage. The horses are in full stride, you can almost feel the motion. This work reminds me a little of the narrative scenes of Philip Guston, not in style but in spirit. Both artists create worlds that are both familiar and strangely off-kilter. Art isn't about answers; it’s about the questions we ask, the stories we tell ourselves, and the connections we make along the way.