Bag c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have an intriguing object titled simply "Bag," dating back to the 19th century. It's made with fibre-art, textile, and cotton and is currently held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s very ornate and decorative. What is your reading of this piece? Curator: Well, I'm immediately drawn to the intense labor embedded in this "simple" bag. Consider the meticulous needlework, the specific dye used for the cotton – likely expensive at the time – and the very social implications of decorative textiles in the 19th century. Was this intended as a functional object, or primarily symbolic? Editor: I hadn't considered the social aspect so closely. What does the decorative element reveal to you? Curator: I see it speaking to the aspirations and even class position of its owner. The level of ornamentation suggests access to certain materials, possibly cotton imported through colonial trade routes and maybe even access to leisure time for its creation. Also, the geometry of the pattern reminds us of standardization, in an era defined by industrial advancements. What's your take? Editor: It also gives a new meaning to the term "baggage". I understand that, through a materialist lens, the bag is not just an object. It also encompasses socio-economic context, colonial trade routes and the story of gender roles, production and consumption in the 19th century. Curator: Precisely. And we can explore these historical layers through close examination of this seemingly everyday object. The study of materiality invites us to examine hidden histories and processes embedded in the art, like labour, or material sourcing. Editor: This has completely changed my perspective. I initially viewed this bag simply as a decorative piece of needlework. Curator: I hope now you can appreciate its much wider impact.