Quilt Block "Red Lion" 1935 - 1942

Florence Truelson crafted this quilt block, "Red Lion," using fabric and thread; its specific date is unknown. The square format presents a vibrant, stylized scene dominated by a striking red lion at its center. The composition relies on contrasting colors and textures: the quilted background, a field of light gray undulation, frames a gold disc where the red lion strides, surrounded by green leaves. The tactile quality of the quilting contrasts with the smooth, flat planes of color, creating a dynamic visual experience. The lion, rendered in bold red, asserts itself against the golden ground, a visual symbol which might destabilize the traditional symbolic meanings of power and regality. Truelson's abstraction of form challenges fixed categories by reducing recognizable elements to essential shapes and colors. The overall effect is not merely decorative; it is an engagement with how simplified forms can communicate complex ideas, inviting viewers to interpret the relationships between color, texture, and form within the context of both personal and cultural meanings. This quilt functions as a site of ongoing interpretation.