Woven Wool Carpet c. 1937

This Woven Wool Carpet was made by William Bos, who lived an impressively long life, from 1855 to 1995! The colours are muted, but there’s a lot going on - red, yellow, green and black threads create an overall striped effect. When I look closely, I see the texture is really important here. The wool gives it a tactile quality, the kind of thing you want to reach out and touch. There are areas where the weave is tighter, forming blocks of colour, and others where the threads are looser, creating a more varied, stripey pattern. The stripes aren't perfectly uniform. It gives the piece a handmade, personal feel. It’s interesting how the colors interact. The red is grounded by the black threads running through it, while the yellow and green add a touch of brightness. It reminds me a little of the work of Anni Albers, who elevated weaving to an art form. Ultimately, this piece shows how something functional, like a carpet, can also be a work of art, full of subtle details and unexpected beauty.