Tapijt met de geboorte van Christus in een kerk te La Chaise-Dieu c. 1868 - 1873

This is a sketch by Hippolyte Malègue, depicting a tapestry of the birth of Christ in a church in La Chaise-Dieu. It’s rendered in pencil on paper, a seemingly simple pairing of materials, yet one that speaks volumes about artistic process. The sketch captures a moment in time, a fleeting observation of a grand tapestry, rich in texture and detail. We can only imagine the skill involved in weaving such a textile, the countless hours of labor, and the intricate patterns painstakingly crafted by hand. Malègue’s sketch reduces all of this into a mere shadow of its former self. But within this monochrome miniature, we can see the tapestry come to life, with Malègue focusing on the intricate folds and textures of the woven fabric. Though the sketch captures the tapestry's symbolic nature, it also directs our attention to the physical processes through which the tapestry was produced. Malègue’s sketch is an invitation to reconsider the value of craft, labor, and the stories embedded within these materials.