Caftan c. mid 20th century

This lavish caftan—we don’t know when it was made or who made it—is a reminder that art isn’t just painting or sculpture. Look at the way the tiny pink roses are so carefully woven into the golden fabric. Each one is perfectly formed, yet together they create a shimmering, almost dizzying effect. There’s something intimate and expansive in the way it looks; the roses could be stars in the sky, or the countless thoughts running through someone’s head. You can almost imagine someone laboring over each rose, stitch by stitch. And it makes me think about what ‘art’ really means. Is it just about what hangs on museum walls, or can it be found in the everyday objects we create and cherish? Think about how this garment, made by someone whose name we might never know, speaks to us across time and cultures. Maybe art is just a way of connecting, one little rose at a time.