Wrapper c. 20th century

weaving, textile

africain-art

weaving

textile

geometric

"Wrapper" is a striking example of textile art by Malian artist Djege Coulibaly, known for his mastery of traditional weaving techniques. The artwork, a large-scale tapestry, features a bold checkerboard pattern in black and white, creating a dynamic visual rhythm. The addition of thin vertical stripes in various densities across the canvas introduces subtle variations to the checkerboard motif. "Wrapper" showcases Coulibaly's skilled manipulation of color and form, highlighting the aesthetic and functional value of West African weaving traditions.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Archeological finds from the Tellem caves in Mali show that strip woven fabrics have been an important part of West African tradition for well over a thousand years. Indigo blue and white weft faced cotton blankets such as this appear to have been part of the aesthetic traditions since the 11th century and evidence indicates that until the successful efforts by colonial powers to subvert local cultivation, West Africa was one of the major world centers of cotton cultivation.