Rug c. 20th century

This is a rug, made by Chimayó, and held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's a simple design, using zig-zags and stripes to build up a pattern that feels both regular and spontaneous. I like how the colours shift and bleed, like watercolour, making each stripe a little different. The texture of the wool is soft and yielding. The reds and yellows feel warm and earthy, like the desert landscape where it was made. I find the vertical lines grounding, but the eye is also drawn to the centre, where the lozenges float like small flames. Looking at these flames, I am reminded of Agnes Martin's grids, which are simple and repetitive but invite a deep contemplation. The imperfections in this rug reveal the artist's hand and remind us that art is a process of making and discovery, not just a finished product.