Historical Printed Textile c. 1939

This Historical Printed Textile was made by Joseph Lubrano sometime between 1855 and 1995; it looks like it was printed with a combination of inks onto fabric. I love how the colours are muted, almost faded, which gives it a kind of dreamy, historical vibe, right? Check out the texture here—it’s not just about the image, but the feel of the cloth. You can almost feel the individual threads. The whole scene, a tableau of armed conflict, is rendered with such detail, yet softened by the material. Note the floral foreground; how does it soften the harshness of what is happening in the background? It reminds me of some work by Elizabeth Murray, who also played with layering and depth, creating these weird, almost cartoonish spaces. Lubrano reminds us that art doesn’t need to shout; sometimes, the quietest pieces have the most to say.