Crewel Embroidery c. 1937

This crewel embroidery was made by Helen E. Gilman, who lived from 1913 to 1995. Imagine the time and focus that went into this piece. The artist guides the thread, pushing and pulling it through the fabric. I love the pale background, the way it's almost a whisper. And then you have these pops of color in the bird and flowers, like little surprises. It’s interesting to think about how Gilman was thinking when she made this. Was she trying to create something beautiful, or was she just lost in the act of making? The stitches create a kind of texture that's so different from paint, but it's still about building up a surface, creating depth. Think about all the other artists who've used thread and fabric to make art – it's a conversation that stretches back centuries. Each artist adds their own voice, their own perspective.