Handwoven Area Rug c. 20th century

This little handwoven rug at the Minneapolis Institute of Art feels so intimate, so handmade. I can imagine the anonymous artist carefully selecting each strand, patiently weaving it into place to create these vertical bands of cream, tan, brown, and black. You know, weaving isn't so different from painting; it's all about building up layers, colors, and textures to create something new. In this rug, the thick, nubby texture makes me want to reach out and touch it, feel the give of the fibers beneath my fingers. The way the colors shift and blend, it's as if the artist was experimenting, exploring different combinations and patterns. I wonder what they were thinking as they worked? Were they trying to capture a memory, a feeling, a place? Or were they simply enjoying the process of creation, letting the materials guide them? It reminds me of Anni Albers' work, how she elevated weaving to an art form. Artists are always having this silent conversation across time, inspiring each other. This rug is more than just a functional object; it's a piece of someone's heart and soul.