Fabric design for Backhausen 1899

Koloman Moser designed this fabric sample for Backhausen using watercolor and pencil in 1899. The design features a repeating pattern of stylized foliage and berries in shades of green, gold, and orange, all laid out on a precise grid. This hints at the industrial processes it would undergo in the Backhausen factory, with skilled laborers operating complex looms to weave the design into textiles. Moser was part of the Wiener Werkstätte, an association that aimed to bring art into everyday life. His designs, like this fabric, speak to broader social and economic currents of the time, when artists and designers sought to bridge the gap between fine art and commercial production. The meticulous detail suggests the amount of work involved in translating this initial design into mass-produced fabric. By considering its material, making, and historical context, we can fully appreciate the rich layers of meaning woven into this seemingly simple fabric design, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.