Coverlet - Section of Right Side c. 1937

This section of a coverlet was made by Cornelius Christoffels sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The colours, a kind of muted coral and pale blue, give it a hazy warmth, while the woven structure is intricate and labour intensive. The image has a real tactile quality, doesn't it? I can almost feel the texture of the woven threads. It’s easy to get lost in the details, each tiny knot and intersection building into the larger pattern. Look at how the coral colour shifts and deepens in certain areas, creating subtle variations within the geometric design. The central square is especially dense, like a concentrated burst of energy. The whole thing feels a little like staring into a complex algorithm. This piece reminds me a little of the quilts of Gee’s Bend, in that it takes a traditional domestic craft, and transforms it into a powerful artistic statement. The act of making, of weaving together individual strands into a cohesive whole, is a beautiful metaphor for the way we create meaning in our lives.