Mud cloth skirt c. 20th century

This mud cloth skirt was made by an anonymous artist, using dyed cloth, and look at the way the pattern just builds and builds! The texture of the cloth feels almost palpable, doesn’t it? Imagine the artist’s hands, dipping and pressing, creating these powerful geometries. I love the little imperfections; the marks aren’t quite perfect, the dye bleeds out on the edges. Look at that little wonky cross. Each shape seems to breathe with its own energy, but all together they create a dense, pulsating field. It reminds me a little of some of the pattern painters like Miriam Shapiro who were active in the 70s, celebrating the decorative as a radical act. This piece shows us how cloth can be a canvas for storytelling, a testament to the beauty of process and the ongoing, ever-evolving conversation that is art.