Wall Paper c. 1936

Hebilly West made this wallpaper design, with a rich and earthy palette of deep red against a tan background. I can imagine West in their studio, carefully carving each shape and line into the block, maybe a linocut, and then inking it to create the repeating floral motif. The design is so striking. It has a kind of art nouveau vibe. The vertical lines add to the visual rhythm, which gives it a sense of order and balance. It's like a garden trellis. I wonder, when West was making this, were they thinking about the tradition of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, how decoration can be both beautiful and functional? It feels like artists are always responding to one another, even across generations. They’re working out their own obsessions while looking at what’s come before. Like they’re participating in one big, ongoing, art-historical conversation.