Sheet with overall zigzag pattern 1800 - 1900

This sheet with a zigzag pattern was made by an anonymous artist, and its date is unknown. The sheet presents an overall zigzag pattern, alternating between blue diamonds with white dots and red-brown diamonds with small dashes. The anonymity of the artist and the uncertainty around its date invite us to consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. Pattern-making has a deep and varied history across cultures, often connected with craft traditions. Its placement in a museum like the Met raises questions about the institutional framing of art. Is it seen as a design template, or a finished artwork in its own right? Was this pattern originally intended for textiles, wallpaper, or another applied art form? The absence of concrete historical data means we must look to comparable patterns, textile histories, and the socio-economic contexts of design to better understand the purpose and social life of this work. By exploring the history of pattern and design, we can appreciate the cultural forces that elevate some forms of creativity while marginalizing others.