San Jose Museum of Art
Joan Brown

 

The Anniversary – Accessories – Scarf with Evening Purse, Orchid Corsage and Glove, 1971

 

The Anniversary – Accessories – Scarf with Evening Purse, Orchid Corsage and Glove, 1971
Enamel on panel
23 ½ x 29 ½ inches
Estate of Joan Brown

By the 1970s, Joan Brown's painting style was flatter and domestic objects had become channels for personal expression. She had moved away from most traditional still-life elements and selected objects that were repositories for her memories and feelings. In The Anniversary – Accessories – Scarf with Evening Purse, Orchid Corsage and Glove (1971), a floral scarf, a white glove, a purse, and a blooming corsage are all keepsakes from a memorable anniversary. The backgrounds of these later still lifes are often very active, filled with contrasting patterns and mismatched colors. The still lifes especially demonstrate Brown's interest in the decorative arts, notably textiles, wallpaper, and, later, ancient art. This aspect of her painting places her work within the context of the Pattern & Decoration movement, a style commonly associated with feminist art.