Betsy Ross, 1777 

Editor: Here we have Jean Leon Gerome Ferris's painting, "Betsy Ross, 1777." It seems to depict the creation of the first American flag. There's a real sense of idealized patriotism and domesticity, especially focused on Betsy Ross's act of sewing. What do you see in this work beyond the obvious narrative? Curator: I see the labor of flag-making presented as a vital element of nation-building, carefully crafting a new American identity. Consider the social context: flags, and textiles in general, held significant economic and symbolic power. By focusing on the act of sewing, Ferris emphasizes not just the design but also the material process. Notice the way light illuminates the fabric, drawing attention to its texture and materiality. Do you think this celebration of domestic craft elevates it, or does it obscure the other kinds of labor happening during wartime? Editor: I suppose it might do both. By romanticizing Betsy Ross's role, the painting perhaps avoids showing the full reality of the revolution, like enslaved people making uniforms or the suffering on the battlefields. It kind of reduces it all to a neat, domestic scene. Curator: Exactly! The production and consumption of materials—fabric, dye, paint, canvas—all contribute to this highly curated and propagandistic scene. We might also question how this romantic vision perpetuates the separation between so-called “high art” and “craft” when, in reality, they are deeply interconnected. Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn’t thought about how even something like a flag could be interpreted through the lens of labor and materials, highlighting the contrast between its intended symbolism and the reality of its making. Curator: And remember, the artistic choices here are material choices as well. Oil painting itself was, and still is, a powerful commodity laden with its own social significance. Considering these elements invites us to reassess the grand narrative being presented. Editor: I guess I won’t be seeing flags in the same way again! Thank you!