Hand Blocked Chintz c. 1936

Editor: Here we have "Hand Blocked Chintz," a watercolor and drawing created around 1936 by Edith Magnette. I’m immediately struck by the density of the foliage and the rich, earthy tones. What story do you think this piece is trying to tell, or perhaps, what feelings does it evoke for you? Curator: Ah, yes. Edith Magnette, a magician with watercolors! For me, it whispers tales of travel, of faraway lands, and colonial influences. But underneath the surface, I wonder if there's also a yearning for the exotic, perhaps a response to the turbulent times of the late 1930s, a retreat into a world of beauty and order? Editor: That's fascinating! It almost feels like a wallpaper sample, very contained and repeating, rather than a window onto another place. Does the 'decorative art' style limit it at all, compared to fine art? Curator: A splendid point. One might consider how the intent to decorate transforms our reception. But maybe it's a liberation. Walls *tell* tales if you let them. What colours grab you most? Are there ones that pull you in? For me it’s the teal. Editor: I definitely agree. The teal pops and sort of creates an imaginary line across the piece, directing my eye. It also has this strange push-and-pull between feeling vintage and modern. It is decorative-art-ish because the artist makes no attempt at realism. Curator: Precisely. A dance of history and modernity, a vibrant echo in a quieter time. Editor: This conversation really reframed my understanding. I went from simply seeing a pretty pattern to imagining all the different dimensions layered within it! Curator: Indeed. Magnette offers more than just a chintz; she shares an atmosphere, an invitation.