Hooked Rug (Cotton) c. 1940

Charlotte Angus made this hooked rug from cotton. The rug’s colour palette is muted, dominated by greys, reds, and browns, creating a cozy, homespun feel. Imagine her, hour after hour, pulling strips of fabric through the backing, building up the textures and patterns. I like to think about the artist who made this rug and the stories embedded in the process of creation. What was Charlotte thinking as she worked? Maybe the rhythmic, repetitive motion became a form of meditation, each loop a moment of reflection. I wonder if she saw this as a painting. Look at the way the colours blend and shift, like a painter mixing hues on a palette. The texture is so tangible; you can almost feel the loops of cotton beneath your fingers. It reminds me of the work of other artists who blur the lines between craft and art, personal expression and collective history. Artists are always in conversation with each other. This piece captures a moment in that exchange, an ongoing act of embodied expression.