Homespun Coverlet 1935 - 1942

Cornelius Christoffels created this drawing of a Homespun Coverlet sometime between 1936 and 1941, using graphite, colored pencil, and crayon on paper. Christoffels was part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal project documenting American decorative arts. This drawing reflects a fascination with Americana, but also serves as a record of the labor and skill involved in creating such an object. Before industrialization, women often created textiles for their homes, investing countless hours in spinning, dyeing, and weaving. These coverlets were not just functional items; they embodied personal and cultural narratives, expressing identity through pattern and color. The drawing invites us to reflect on the relationship between craft, labor, and identity, acknowledging the contributions of women whose stories are woven into the fabric of our shared history.