Embroidered Collar c. 1937

Marie Famularo made this embroidered collar with thread and fabric. Look at the delicate, almost ghostly quality of this thing, right? It's like a drawing, but with this added layer of texture from the embroidery. I can really appreciate the way the artist has used the simple running stitch to create subtle patterns and forms. Embroidery is traditionally seen as a "craft" medium, but I think the attention to detail elevates it to something more. It’s about the time and patience involved, the labor of each tiny stitch building up to the whole. It reminds me a little of the work of textile artists like Anni Albers, who also found ways to bring abstract, painterly ideas into weaving. Ultimately, this collar invites us to reconsider the boundaries between art and craft, and to appreciate the quiet beauty of everyday objects.