Stair Carpet c. 1939

Arthur G. Merkley made this painting of a ‘Stair Carpet’ on a piece of paper, at some point in the 20th Century, and I love the even-handed way he’s approached the image-making. The texture is everything here, right? Look at the way he’s built up the colours in these tiny hatched lines, a bit like weaving with paint. This isn’t just about representing a carpet, it’s about the joy of process, the pleasure in repetition, and the meditative quality of making. The colour palette is earthy, with muted reds, browns, and greens, but there’s also this flash of pink that just sings. It’s not a pretty pink, but a real, almost acidic pink. I’m reminded of the work of Agnes Martin, in the way Merkley uses simple forms and repetition to create something that’s both visually appealing and deeply calming. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be loud or complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most profound.