Woman's Skirt Length c. 20th century

This indigo-dyed cloth, called Woman's Skirt Length, was made by an artist from the Dogon people. Imagine the patient, rhythmic action of dipping the fabric into the indigo bath, again and again, to build up those deep blues. The artist used a resist-dyeing technique, carefully placing the stitches or ties into the cloth to protect certain areas from the dye. The little blue dashes that run down the material make me think of rain, or maybe tears. I can almost feel the artist's hands moving across the fabric, securing each tiny stitch. Were they thinking about the woman who would wear this skirt? What would her life be like? Textiles like this tell stories, not just through their patterns but also through the labor and knowledge embedded in their creation. This piece reminds me that art is a conversation across time, a way for us to connect with people and cultures far removed from our own.