Anonymous was a Woman I 1977

Miriam Schapiro made "Anonymous was a Woman I" as a print, sometime around 1975. It's this incredible, delicate pattern of lace, almost like a doily, rendered in warm, earthy red. The density of the lines is what gets me. Schapiro really emphasizes the texture and the layering of the lace. The precision of each line is so important. It makes you think about the labor, the skill, and the time that goes into creating these objects we often overlook. I think about the title and how it speaks to so many women throughout history whose work has been undervalued. Schapiro's piece is about seeing, valuing, and recognizing. It reminds me a little of the pattern paintings of artists like Joyce Kozloff, who was looking at non-western art, textiles, and decoration. Art's a conversation, right? We're all just riffing off each other.