Towel c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have an 18th-century woven textile simply titled "Towel," currently residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. The delicate embroidery is so captivating. How do you interpret this piece, particularly within its historical context? Curator: Well, it’s labeled as a "towel", but how might that simple label belie complex social and historical realities? Who was using it, and under what conditions? Given the "erotic-art" tag, one might consider this seemingly mundane object as embodying something related to sexuality and its constraints. This era saw increasing control and regulation of female sexuality. Editor: That's a really interesting point. It also seems the maker put in so much care and artistry for just a "towel," I never would've thought about how it touches on themes like control. Curator: Precisely. How might a simple object serve as a silent testament to social power structures of the time, or perhaps even an expression of resistance? The fact it’s listed as anonymous invites further probing: gender roles defined needlework at the time, where women didn’t have space for "great" works. So what does a piece like this signal? Editor: So, its very anonymity becomes a powerful statement itself, challenging established hierarchies. It certainly changes how I perceive it. Curator: It does, doesn't it? And think about the labour involved; who benefitted? We must examine not only aesthetics but also production to understand such work, the threads that connect object, maker, and society. Editor: I'm leaving this conversation really thinking about the power of everyday objects to reflect, and even subvert, historical power dynamics. Thank you for this view. Curator: It is only a starting point! Hopefully, the history and its questions spur future interrogations.