Crochet Doily 1935 - 1942

Herbert Marsh made this drawing of a Crochet Doily sometime between 1855 and 1995, using graphite on paper. The controlled marks build up to this hazy rendering of a textile, and it's hard not to think about the process of making, all the little steps and repetitions that would have gone into both the doily and the drawing of it. The drawing has this soft, almost faded quality, like a memory. The graphite is layered to mimic the texture of the crocheted fabric, those bobbles of yarn held together by even finer strands, and the delicate fringe around the edge. See how the light catches the raised areas, giving it a three-dimensional feel? I think about Agnes Martin when I look at this, in the sense that both artists take a seemingly mundane subject and elevate it through careful, methodical mark-making. Ultimately, this work reminds us that art isn't just about grand gestures, but also about the quiet beauty of everyday objects and the meditative act of creation. It celebrates the subtle variations and imperfections that make each handmade piece unique.