Mill sample c. 1895

This "Mill Sample" was made at an unknown date, in an unknown place, by an anonymous artist. But let’s not let anonymity deter us. In fact, it may be the key to understanding this work. When we think about art, we tend to think about individual artists, whose singular vision is expressed in a unique style. But what happens when an artwork is produced anonymously? Well, we are left to ask some different questions. Who made this? And why? And what does it tell us about the culture and institutions that produced it? We can consider it in light of the history of textile manufacturing or the Industrial Revolution. We can also use online databases such as the Textile Research Centre to compare this object with other textiles and understand more about its function. Doing so allows us to understand art as something made by individuals, but also as something deeply embedded in social and institutional structures.