Beaded Cushion 1935 - 1942

Florence Truelson created this Beaded Cushion of unknown date, employing intricate beadwork and textile techniques. The work presents a square format, though its edges are soft, almost cloud-like. The tactile quality of the beads contrasts with the flatness of the background, creating an intriguing tension between dimensionality and surface. The composition is structured around a central, densely worked area, surrounded by a lighter, more open border of looped and scalloped edges. This layering creates a sense of depth, drawing the eye inward. The muted colour palette – dominated by greys, creams, and hints of gold and red – gives the piece a subdued, almost melancholic atmosphere. Truelson’s work can be seen through the lens of structuralism, where the arrangement of beads and textiles forms a system of signs. Each element contributes to a larger narrative, perhaps reflecting domesticity, memory, and the passage of time. The softness of the cushion form, juxtaposed with the rigid grid of beadwork, challenges fixed notions of comfort and constraint. The artwork invites ongoing contemplation of its textures, patterns, and possible meanings.