Batik Panel c. 20th century

This is Batik Panel, an enormous textile piece from an anonymous maker. It is now hanging in Minneapolis Institute of Art. Just look at the density of marks in this panel! I can only imagine the amount of labour that has gone into its creation. The anonymous artist has used dye to make these marks on the fabric, where layers and layers of colour overlap. It makes me wonder what the relationship was between the maker and the artwork. Was it a labour of love? Or was it a repetitive, industrial process? Maybe a bit of both. The tiny flowers look like they're floating in some kind of golden brown atmosphere. Up close, you see little blue clusters adding complexity to the overall scheme. The artist has worked with a limited palette, exploring these variations through repetition and careful placement of colours. What if Agnes Martin saw this? I bet she would admire the subtle variations within the grid structure, where each mark carries its own weight and meaning.