Tyler Coverlet c. 1941

This Tyler Coverlet was designed by Arthur G. Merkley, and I can just imagine him at work. It's got this amazing muted palette – a sort of pale rose with gray-white patterning – and it's packed with imagery from floral motifs to eagles and inscriptions. You can see these swirling, repetitive designs that create the structure of the textile. They're not just thrown together; they're carefully placed and balanced. I'm thinking about the artist, maybe laying out a preliminary sketch, figuring out how all those shapes would fit together, or even collaborating with others in his studio. It's interesting to think about all those floral and patriotic forms bumping up against each other—and there's this whole conversation going on between nature and country. It's really interesting from an artistic perspective because it embraces ambiguity. It's a reminder that all artists are in conversation with each other and with the past, building on what came before, and pushing the boundaries in their own way.