Shaker Visionary Image 1935 - 1942

This visionary image was made by an anonymous Shaker artist, we don't know exactly when, with ink on paper. The drawing is intricate, the mark-making precise, but there is also a strangeness, an openness that hints at the subconscious. It's a process made visible, a kind of automatic drawing that reminds me of the Surrealists. I’m interested in the material aspects, the way the ink sits on the paper, sometimes bleeding, sometimes sharp. Look at the composition: the grid is filled with rows of little pyramids, strange alchemical symbols, and blocks of text. These elements, so carefully rendered, create a dense, almost claustrophobic space. It’s fascinating how the artist balances the graphic elements with handwritten text. The overall texture invites close inspection. There’s something here that feels both deeply personal and universal, a reminder that art is not about answers, but about exploring the unknown. Agnes Martin also comes to mind, especially because of the grid. The visionary image is a world, a meditation, an open invitation.