Wall Paper Border Design c. 1936

Frances Lichten made this wallpaper border design, most likely with watercolors, maybe gouache. I can see her working away, trying to conjure a kind of domestic maximalism, a soft riot of ornament. I'm especially drawn to the frilly valence, the way it drapes and folds, with that waterfall of creamy white and pale red fabric. Imagine the artist's hand, carefully layering each stroke, building up the intricate details of tassels and floral patterns. There’s something so earnest about this piece, an attempt to bring a touch of highfalutin design into everyday life. The colors are muted and earthy, the forms a little wonky, which gives it all a kind of handmade charm. I think about other pattern makers like William Morris, or even outsider artists who create obsessive, decorative worlds. It's a reminder that artists are always riffing off each other. They are taking inspiration from the past and remixing it into something new. Painting allows for ambiguity and invites multiple meanings to bloom.