Woven piece 1875 - 1878

This woven piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, created by William Morris, presents a dense, all-over pattern dominated by a cool palette of blues and greens. The texture, rich and intricate, invites close inspection, evoking a sense of depth and organic vitality. The composition features stylized birds and foliage arranged in symmetrical rows, suggesting a harmonious balance but also a flattening of perspective typical of textile design. Morris's work can be understood through the lens of semiotics. The birds and leaves act as signs, referencing the natural world, yet are deliberately abstracted and repeated. This challenges conventional representation. The careful ordering of motifs indicates a deeper structural engagement, one that seeks to find order and beauty within the inherent chaos of nature. The repeating pattern underscores how art can transform raw material into a structured aesthetic experience. Through its formal qualities, the piece prompts a reflection on our relationship with nature, and the nature of representation.