Pineapple Quilt 1935 - 1942

This is Mildred Bent’s "Pineapple Quilt" made with graphite and colored pencil on paper. The composition reveals a grid of squares, each containing a stylized pineapple motif surrounded by foliage. The repetition creates a structured, almost mathematical rhythm. Bent’s choice of the pineapple, a symbol of hospitality, alongside the grid format, traditionally associated with order, sets up an interesting interplay. The grid, a foundational element in modern art, can also be seen as a framework that both contains and emphasizes the organic forms within each square. This contrast invites us to consider how standardized structures can be softened by natural, life-affirming elements. Notice how the delicate pencil work and muted colors contribute to the quilt's gentle aesthetic. The grid and pineapple motifs are more than decorative; they are components in a visual language that explores the relationship between control and freedom, nature and artifice, inviting us to reconsider these binaries.