Ontwerp voor een rond tapijt c. 1854 - 1864

This design for a round carpet was rendered anonymously, using traditional drawing materials. You can see the corner of a vibrant rug, densely patterned with floral motifs and paisley shapes. The design features a complex interplay of colors like deep reds, blues, and yellows against a green ground, all crowned by a fringe of red and yellow. Consider the processes of production this drawing anticipates. Carpets like this would typically involve highly skilled labor, often in a workshop setting, with weavers meticulously following a cartoon. The level of detail suggests a time-consuming and labor-intensive undertaking, reflective of the cultural value placed on handcrafted textiles, and the social dynamics of production, where skilled artisans contributed to luxury goods, and a long tradition of fine arts and crafts. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate the skill involved, and the many hands engaged in the carpet-making trade.