Wall Paper Border c. 1936

This is George Robin’s ‘Wall Paper Border’, created with watercolour, gouache, and graphite on paper. Notice how Robin meticulously balances colour and form. The design presents three distinct bands: An upper register of grey semi-circles and white dots, a central blue band and the lower band mirroring the upper in grey tone. In this middle section, white lines loop between black almond shapes, creating an elegant interplay of positive and negative space. The wallpaper's appeal lies in its rhythmic structure and subtle variations. The repeated patterns suggest a formal, almost mathematical, approach to design. We can see echoes of structuralist thought here, where meaning arises from the relations between elements within a system. The wallpaper border presents a microcosm of order and balance. The use of simple geometric forms and a muted palette reflects an interest in the underlying structure of visual experience. It asks us to consider how meaning is constructed through repetition and variation, not just in art but in all aspects of culture.