Wedding or Festival Skirt c. 1900 - 1925

This "Wedding or Festival Skirt" was created by Jat, and I can imagine the maker using needle and thread with the same gestural intensity that I approach a canvas. Look at the field of yellow and white on the skirt, which creates a mesmerizing play of light and shadow. I bet Jat wasn’t thinking about making it perfect but thinking about how it will look when the wearer moves. Think of the maker’s hand, guiding the needle with care and precision. I can see the rhythmic stitching, the way the embellishments catch the light, and the overall texture of the fabric. I’m thinking how the brown top contrasts the black field, and also how this textile relates to the history of decoration but also painting. I bet Jat liked to look at other art too. Textile artists have always been in conversation, passing down techniques, inspiring each other, and pushing the boundaries of what fabric can do. This skirt embodies the ambiguity and uncertainty that makes art so exciting. It’s not just a piece of clothing; it’s a form of expression.