Coverlet Fragment c. 1936

This coverlet fragment was made by Alois E. Ulrich, who lived between 1855 and 1995, though we don’t know exactly when this piece was made. I love how the blues and off-whites play together, creating a sort of optical rhythm. It makes me think about the way artmaking is a constant process of call and response, weaving together intention and accident. Looking closely, you can really feel the physicality of the medium; the texture is so present. Each little square seems to have been made with care and attention. The weave is what makes it, I think. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin’s grids, but warmer, more human somehow. I imagine Ulrich, lost in the repetitive act of weaving, finding a kind of meditative peace. Like any great artwork, this fragment embraces ambiguity. It’s not just a functional object, but a testament to the power of human touch and the beauty of simple forms. In its modesty, it speaks volumes.