Bundle Handkerchief c. 1936

Alfred Denghausen’s “Bundle Handkerchief” is rendered in a palette of reds, grays, and whites to create a checkered pattern. I can only imagine how the artwork came into being, perhaps shifting and emerging through repetition, trial, error, and intuition? I sympathize with the artist, who was working to create a complex image while thinking about the material aspects of painting, such as texture, color, and surface. You can see the delicate grid with its thin layers and washes of color, and how these elements shape our experience of the painting. Note the way that the checkered squares and rectangles overlap and how the surface is built up with layers of thin paint. I am particularly drawn to the deep gray rectangles and how they communicate a feeling of calm while contrasting with the red. The artwork offers multiple interpretations and meanings, contributing to the ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas between artists across time.