Stencilled Floor c. 1938

Edward DiGennero made this work with stencils, imagining a floor of repeating floral motifs in greens, yellows, and blues on a dark ground. It’s clear that the artist delights in a certain controlled freedom. I picture him carefully pressing the stencil to the paper, then lifting it to reveal each shape like a little surprise. You can imagine DiGennero, perhaps with music playing, losing himself in the repetition, each stencil building on the last. The mix of colours is so satisfying, it feels like a garden at twilight. He is probably looking at folk art. The zig-zag lines on the top and bottom edges create a kind of border, framing the scene. It reminds me of a rug, its colours a little faded, but still holding the stories of the lives lived upon it. This play between pattern and irregularity makes it sing, setting it apart from mere decoration.