Coverlet c. 1941

This is a drawing by Cornelius Christoffels of a coverlet, rendered with a delicate hand using graphite and colored pencil. I can imagine Christoffels being very careful, patiently building up this pattern, square by square. There's something both methodical and really sensuous about the way he renders the texture of the woven fabric. Look at how the colored pencils create these tiny, almost pixelated fields of alternating color, blue and orange-red, giving the impression of depth and tactile dimensionality. I think he was likely thinking hard about the original object, trying to get the details down just right, and really focusing on its construction. It's a reminder of how much information and feeling can be communicated through pattern and repetition. I like how this piece celebrates the artistry inherent in craft. It makes me think of artists like Anni Albers, who also blurred the lines between fine art and textile design. They are both part of this wider conversation about the beauty and expressive potential found in everyday objects.