Hemd of mouwhemd van gebreide katoen c. 1910

P. Titjen-Baas created this knitted cotton dress, or undershirt, sometime in the twentieth century in the Netherlands. It is a handmade object, which invites us to consider the role of craft in social and cultural history. In a time of mass-produced clothing, this knitted piece speaks to an older tradition of domestic labor. The act of knitting, traditionally associated with women, was both a practical necessity and a form of creative expression. But how does this domestic object enter the realm of art? Is it through the artist's intention, or through the museum's act of preservation and display? Understanding its full meaning requires a look into Dutch social history, into the changing roles of women, and into the shifting values placed on handmade versus machine-made goods. This piece encourages us to question the boundaries between art, craft, and everyday life.