Sheet with overall paisley pattern 1800 - 1900

This small sheet presents an overall paisley pattern, crafted by an anonymous artist. Its existence speaks to the global exchange of goods and cultural symbols, and invites us to consider the lives connected through its trade and consumption. The paisley motif, with its ancient Persian origins, became a ubiquitous element in Western fashion and design, particularly during the 19th century. This globalization collapses geographical and cultural boundaries, yet it also reflects the power dynamics inherent in cultural appropriation. The questions of who gets to profit from cultural symbols, and whose labor is exploited in their production, come to the fore. Consider the hands that dyed, printed, and transported this textile. This sheet prompts us to reflect on the complex relationships between self and other, as well as the personal and the political, that are woven into the fabric of our shared history.