Woman's Skirt Length c. 20th century

This deep blue textile, called 'Woman's Skirt Length,' was woven by a Dogon artist in Mali. Woven textiles have always been important in Dogon culture, with different patterns and colors signifying different social statuses and ceremonial roles. The deep indigo dye, which is extracted from local plants, is not just a color but a cultural marker. The cloth would have been wrapped around the waist, its length signifying the wearer's age or status within the community. The density of the weave and the evenness of the dye suggest a high level of skill, marking the creator as someone of importance. Weaving is often a communal activity, it’s likely that this skirt length represents shared knowledge, values, and aesthetic preferences. To fully understand the textile, we would need to delve into the historical archives, ethnographic studies, and material culture analyses of the Dogon people. By investigating the social context of the object we can comprehend not just its aesthetic qualities but also its role as a marker of social identity and cultural cohesion.