Calico Quilt (Patchwork) c. 1942

Renée A. Monfalcone made this ‘Calico Quilt (Patchwork)’ sometime between 1855 and 1995, we don’t know exactly when, using some kind of paint on paper. Look at the way the green and red shapes vibrate against the dotted white – it’s like a Mondrian gone domestic! The quilting is implied with delicate lines, almost like a memory of touch. And the slight crumples she’s painted – suggesting a used or worn piece – is so beautiful. I love how she’s captured the materiality of the fabric. It’s not just a flat surface; you can almost feel the slightly padded texture. See the way the colours pool in those painted creases and folds, giving it depth? It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, but softer, more intimate. Like a whisper of a quilt, rather than a shout. It's clear that she’s thinking about the history of the object, not just the way it looks, but how it feels to touch.