Sampler c. 1942

Editor: This is the "Sampler," dating from around 1942, by Douglas Campbell. It's made with drawing, fibre art, and textile techniques, giving it a very tactile feel. It strikes me as quite formal and traditional, almost like a historical document, with its neat rows of alphabets and numbers. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this "Sampler" as a historical document precisely because of its apparent simplicity. Think about the context: 1942. While the world was engulfed in war, here we see a piece invoking tradition and perhaps offering a sense of continuity and normalcy. Notice "School No. 8" stitched at the bottom. What kind of social function do you imagine these school samplers served at that time, during World War II? Editor: I guess it was a way of teaching needlework but also instilling values and preserving tradition amidst all the chaos? Curator: Exactly. Samplers weren't merely displays of skill; they reflected a specific kind of education and societal expectation, particularly for young women. The act of creation itself— the meticulous stitching during wartime—speaks to the values placed on domesticity and artistic practice as feminine roles during the period, and a collective desire for things to be as they were before war. Editor: I never really thought about it that way. It seems almost defiant now, in a quiet way. Thanks, this helps understand it so much more. Curator: My pleasure! These textiles are complex carriers of historical information if we think beyond their charming aesthetics.