Sheet with pattern of flowers and circles 1800 - 1900

This is a small patterned sheet of paper, its maker remaining unknown, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On a muted, warm grey ground, yellow circles are methodically placed. Each contains a solid pink disc. Smaller pink flower shapes populate the negative space, creating an all-over design. The effect is not chaotic but considered. The interplay between geometric and organic shapes is subtle, destabilizing any clear distinction between them. This relates to poststructuralist theories where boundaries are fluid. The repetitive nature of the pattern can be viewed through the lens of structuralism, where the meaning is derived from the relationships between elements rather than the elements themselves. The sheet's beauty lies in its careful arrangement. Each motif contributes to a balanced composition, questioning fixed notions of what constitutes 'high' art and challenging us to find value in the everyday.