Textile Design with an Interlacing Pattern of Circles with Pearls over a Stippled Background 1840

This textile design with an interlacing pattern of circles with pearls over a stippled background, exists as a small sheet, and was made by an anonymous artist. It’s intriguing to consider the cultural and social implications of anonymity. Historically, the names of women and artists of color are notably absent from the canon, a stark reminder of who is granted visibility and power within our cultural institutions. In this pattern, the pearls, traditionally symbols of wealth and purity, are democratized. Each is nestled within an identical stippled setting, neutralizing their association with the elite. As we reflect on this, let's consider whose stories have been woven into the fabric of history, and whose have been purposefully, or carelessly, left out.