Shaker Kerchief 1935 - 1942

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen made this 'Shaker Kerchief' with watercolor, gouache, and graphite. The piece is so calm, so dedicated to this simple colour palette. Green and white checks, green and white stripes. The texture of the paper interacts with the colour, creating tiny details that are soft and yet defined. There's a section in the lower left that's a solid square of green, like a deep breath, and at the right, columns of green. Near the top right is a red stamp. I wonder, did Selmer-Larsen decide to include this or was it already there? It's this little imperfection that makes it all the more interesting. The Kerchief reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in its simplicity and meditation, yet also of pattern painters like Miriam Schapiro. The interesting thing about art is that it is never finished. It is constantly unfolding, and never remains still.