Batik Panel c. 20th century

This batik panel, made anonymously, is now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I love the repeated pattern. It makes me think about how much work goes into such a piece. The colors are earthy, mostly browns and creams, and the shapes create a visual rhythm that is both calming and engaging. Look at the little motifs inside each square - some are triangles, others look like tiny flowers. It's like the artist was building up tiny marks to create the larger design. You can see the texture of the fabric, and that makes me wonder about the artist, what their studio was like, or where they made this piece. The whole panel reminds me of the work of Anni Albers, another artist who used repeated shapes and patterns to build up intricate designs. This piece is more than just a pretty picture. It's a whole world of color, texture, and pattern that invites you to get lost in its details.