Bandbox 1940

Dorothy Dwin made this rendering of a Bandbox, a useful container, using watercolor and graphite, with each mark carefully laid down. I love how the process of making art is so closely aligned with the process of making this… box! Look at the surface: it's like Dwin is describing the texture and the color of the original object, stroke by stroke. The graphite lines, and the delicate washes of color are really interesting here, the umber and greens are muted, there's a slightly faded appearance. It reminds me of a textile, or a wallpaper sample. There's such a lovely sense of patience, like each leaf and each flower has been carefully observed. See that swirling pattern, it’s like a dance of organic forms, but it also could be read as pure abstract shapes. It makes me think of Hilma af Klint, maybe because both artists are exploring hidden patterns. The beauty of art lies in its ambiguity, right? We can see so many different things in it, and that's what keeps us coming back for more.