Painted Velvet 1935 - 1942

James H.C. Vail painted this still life of fruit in a basket using paint on velvet. Vail was active in the mid-20th century, during a period when American art was undergoing significant shifts, with artists exploring new modes of expression after the world wars. During this time the representation of everyday objects reflected changing attitudes toward consumerism and domesticity. Here, Vail’s fruit basket is brimming with produce, symbolizing abundance and plenty. It is tempting to read the basket as a feminine space. However, Vail's artistic journey during this period is not well documented, and there's little information available about his personal life or motivations. The painting itself offers a glimpse into the artist's aesthetic sensibilities, and what we can see is that he appears to be reaching towards a common theme, rather than pushing boundaries of the time. "Painted Velvet" invites us to reflect on our relationship with simple pleasures, in what ways do we find them and how might we choose to represent them.