Quilt c. 1938

This Quilt by Frank Gutting, no date provided, presents us with the comforting image of a handmade textile, carefully rendered with fine brushstrokes. Imagine Gutting at work, patiently building up the delicate patterns of flowers and vines. I wonder, was he thinking about the women in his life who might have sewn such quilts? Or perhaps he was simply drawn to the visual pleasure of repeating motifs, like the little pink scallops that edge the fabric. There's a tenderness in the way he depicts each element, a quiet appreciation for the labor and love that goes into creating something beautiful and functional. Painters often look to other art forms for inspiration; maybe Gutting saw in the quilt a kind of readymade abstract composition. I feel how different ways of making – sewing and painting – can be in conversation with one another, informing and enriching each other. Gutting’s picture reminds us that artists are always borrowing, stealing, and transforming ideas across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.