Coverlet c. 1940

Editor: Here we have Betty Jacob’s "Coverlet," created around 1940, made with mixed media like drawing and fibre art. It strikes me as meticulously crafted, but in a simple way with repeating geometric patterns. How do you read this piece? Curator: As a materialist, I’m immediately drawn to the means of production at play here. What kind of labour went into creating this coverlet? What social circumstances defined Betty Jacob's choices of materials and design? Is this design of its era? Editor: I hadn't considered the labour. Are you thinking about it as a reflection of the artist's lived experience or maybe a larger context of textile production at that time? Curator: Both, really. Look at the geometric patterns and repetitive designs. Are these motifs sourced from earlier weaving traditions, or are they responding to contemporary design trends? How would mass-produced textiles have been regarded at the time? Quilting and weaving were both useful and artistic, occupying a space between ‘art’ and ‘craft’ - and often assigned to women. The work challenges those boundaries. What story does the material tell? Editor: So it becomes more than just a decorative object. It holds all these layers of social and economic meaning within its threads, literally. I see how this approach invites us to think critically about not only the 'what' but also the 'how' and 'why' behind art. Curator: Exactly. And remember, even something seemingly simple like a coverlet involves material choices and construction techniques. That adds up to the object's deeper significance within society. Editor: Thanks, it completely changed how I saw this. I had only considered it from a pattern point of view. Curator: Me too. It’s amazing what you can find.