Floral Applique Quilt 1847 - 1853

Emeline Travis Ludington crafted this Floral Applique Quilt out of cotton, using applique, and quilting techniques. Textiles like this one represent the artistic labor of women, frequently excluded from the institutions of the art world in 19th century America. This quilt may have been produced in a domestic space, far removed from the elite academies and galleries that defined ‘high art’. But, this isn't to say that the artist wasn't concerned with aesthetics. The cultural and social environment of the time – its values, beliefs, and available materials - deeply influences the artist's creative choices. The floral patterns and symmetrical design create meaning through visual codes and cultural references of the time, perhaps invoking ideas of domesticity and natural beauty. The act of quilting itself becomes a social commentary, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes art. As historians, we use a range of resources – from census records to fashion plates and world's fair catalogues – to interpret how art embodies meaning contingent on its social and institutional context.