Stencilled Floor c. 1938

This "Stencilled Floor" was created in the late nineteenth century by Jerome Hoxie, using paint on paper. The work presents a stenciled floor design, a popular form of decoration at the time. The dark wooden background is brought to life by colorful, stylized floral motifs and geometric patterns. The artist employs stenciling techniques, evident in the repetition and precision of the designs, showcasing a blend of artistic skill and craft. Stenciling, while allowing for repeatability, would have required careful labor, aligning with the values of both mass production and the individual artisan. In a time of increasing industrialization, decorative painting was a source of employment. The painted floor was a cheaper alternative to carpeting, made accessible through division of labor, pattern books, and readily available materials. Hoxie’s stencil design is evocative of this history, reminding us that even in art, labor, and material context deeply shape our understanding.