Embroidered canvas c. 19th century

This embroidered canvas of approximately 18 by 19 inches now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at how the anonymous artist uses simple stitches to create a complex, almost mesmerizing pattern of maroon and white. The texture of the fabric, combined with the repetitive motif, invites a tactile engagement, as if one could understand the piece better by feeling its surface. The composition relies heavily on the grid, a structure that Rosalind Krauss famously described as emblematic of modern art's ambition to break from representational conventions. However, unlike the cold precision often associated with the grid, this work has a handcrafted warmth. The slight imperfections in the embroidery add a human touch. This contrast is particularly interesting as it destabilizes the divide between the mechanical and the manual, the impersonal and the intimate. The grid, typically a sign of rigid order, is here softened, almost humanized, challenging our preconceived notions about structure and form.