Embroidered Applique Quilt 1935 - 1942

This Embroidered Applique Quilt, by Marian Curtis Foster, is undated, but look at the making, the doing of it! I love the slightly wonky, hand-touched quality of the stitches, the way they build up these dense little worlds. Notice how the repeated floral motifs give way to little scenes: a house, trees, even what looks like a horse and carriage. In the center, there's this amazing tree with tiny pink blossoms, the stitches almost vibrating with energy. It’s so dense and alive, it feels like a whole universe contained in that one spot. I can almost feel the texture of the fabric, the way the thread catches the light. It’s like Foster is inviting us to slow down and really see, not just the image, but the labor and love that went into creating it. It’s something like Hilma af Klint’s early botanical drawing and charts, but with more folksy charm. It makes you realize that art is about more than just what you see—it’s about how you see, and what you bring to the act of looking.