Wall Paper Border 1935 - 1942

Burton Ewing made this wallpaper border, in what looks like watercolor or gouache, sometime in the 20th century. It’s all about pattern, a dance of repetition and subtle variation. The red flowers and grey leaves are laid out with a controlled hand; the black scalloped lines make you think that Ewing was trained as a draftsman. Look at how the red pops against the cool greys and whites. The color choices are so key to the mood. This palette feels kind of retro now, but so fresh. I love how the shapes are flat, almost like stencils, which makes the image feel very contemporary. It reminds me of something that Milton Avery might have made if he was designing wallpaper. I wonder about the connection between ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, and how artists like Ewing and Avery both borrowed from folk art traditions to make something very personal. Art, after all, is always a conversation across time.