Cotton Kerchief c. 1937

Percival Jenner made this cotton kerchief design sometime between 1870 and 1920, with watercolor, graphite, and maybe some gouache on paper. Look at that rich reddish-brown ground – it’s the earth from which those stylized flowers and paisley teardrops bloom! Jenner was clearly having a good time playing with blues and greens and yellows, dotting them in the middle of the flowers and along the borders. I bet he was thinking about all those amazing textiles from India, Persia, and Turkey. The way he carefully plotted out the design reminds me of the Arts and Crafts movement and the way designers like William Morris revived handcraft traditions, but with a decidedly modern feel. It’s not just decoration. It’s a whole conversation across time and cultures. Someone like Jenner builds on what came before, adding their own twist and opening up possibilities for the artists who follow. That’s how art keeps moving forward.