Textile 1935 - 1942

This work, titled Textile, is an anonymous piece of unknown date, rendered in pencil on paper. It presents a series of lines and notations. Given that we know little about the artist, our reading of this piece must rely on speculation and conjecture. I wonder if it might have been made by a woman, perhaps even enslaved, who was familiar with weaving or quilt making, textile production being so often associated with female labor. The notations that punctuate the "weave" further suggest the artist's literacy and perhaps her desire to record or communicate something through the structure of the piece. There is a kind of visual poetry in the image. It offers a subtle resistance to the dominant historical narratives. It challenges us to consider whose voices are often unheard and whose stories remain untold. In its quiet way, this piece speaks to the power of art to preserve memory, express identity, and enact resistance, even under the most oppressive conditions.