Panel (From a Skirt) c. 1743

This silk panel from a skirt was designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite, an English textile designer, in the 18th century. The floral pattern, with its monochromatic palette, speaks to the refined tastes of the period, but also to the economic and social structures that underpinned its creation and consumption. Consider the historical context: the 1700's marked a period of intense colonial expansion, and textiles were central to global trade networks. Fabrics like silk were not simply materials, they were embodiments of power, wealth, and cultural exchange, often produced through exploitative labor practices. Garthwaite's designs catered to an elite clientele, their garments signaling social status. As a woman working in a male-dominated field, Garthwaite navigated the intersection of gender and class. She developed alternative narratives within the traditional framework of textile design. This seemingly delicate panel, therefore, becomes a lens through which we can examine the complex interplay of identity, commerce, and artistic expression in the Georgian era.