Man's poncho c. 20th century

This man's poncho was made by the Quechua people, but we don't know when. It's a textile, woven, with all that implies in terms of process – the back and forth, the push and pull of thread – and the way the final image emerges line by line. Look at the deep reds, earthy, grounded, and the way they play off the ochre and cream stripes. These bands aren’t just decorative; they’re structural, a kind of visual rhythm that feels deeply connected to the body, the way we move through space. Imagine wearing this. How the colors would shift with the light, the texture would feel against your skin. See the tiny details, those little crosses and diamonds along the edge? Imperfect, human, each one slightly different. That's what makes it feel so alive. The colours and form here remind me of Paul Klee. Maybe this is because the best art never gives us all the answers, it invites us to bring our own stories, our own experiences, to the weave.