Rabari quilt cover c. 20th century

This Rabari quilt cover, made with thread on cloth, is less about depiction and more like a conversation in pattern and color. I can imagine the maker, sitting with the cloth stretched out before them, needle in hand, kind of building up the image bit by bit, stitch by stitch. There's something deeply satisfying about the repetition of those square motifs, each one slightly different, like variations on a theme. The bold purples, reds and oranges set against the muted background create this really vibrant, almost electric feel, don't they? I wonder what the maker was thinking about as they worked? Were they lost in thought, or fully present with each stitch? There is a real back and forth that happens between artists across time. We look at each other's work, riffing on ideas, pushing things further. To me this quilt embodies that spirit of ongoing creative exchange, a testament to the power of craft to create something truly special.