Wall Stencil (From an Inn) c. 1936

Ray Holden made this wall stencil with paint on paper sometime in the 20th century. What I see here is a whole world of mark-making and pattern. It’s not just about representation, but about the sheer joy of repetition. I imagine Ray, brush in hand, carefully repeating the same shapes over and over, a dance between intention and accident. The slight imperfections, the variations in pressure and speed, give each motif its own unique character. I like to think about the physical act of painting - Ray’s hand moving across the surface, the smell of the paint, the quiet concentration. It reminds me of other artists, Agnes Martin perhaps, in its meditative quality. Like an Agnes Martin grid, these stencils create a delicate balance. It’s a conversation across time, a reminder that art is a collective endeavor, a constant exchange of ideas. Painting like this is an open-ended process that invites you to bring your own experiences and interpretations to the table.