Sewed "Caterpillar" Rug c. 1937

Marian Curtis Foster rendered this rug using watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil. The Seated "Caterpillar" Rug is replete with floral motifs, symbols of growth, beauty, and ephemerality, echoing ancient traditions where flowers represented both life's fleeting nature and the promise of renewal. The arrangement of the flowers brings to mind the garland. These floral arrangements transcend time, reappearing in funerary art from ancient Rome, evoking themes of remembrance and cyclical return. Think of Botticelli's "Primavera," where Flora scatters blossoms, a direct revival of classical motifs, signaling the arrival of spring and fertility. The clustering of the floral arrangement also reminds me of the ever-present *horror vacui*. It creates a powerful field of energy, subconsciously tapping into our fears of emptiness and our desire for completion. The caterpillar in the rug's name hints at transformation and metamorphosis. The floral arrangements are not just aesthetic elements but emotional conduits that weave together personal and collective memories. These images endure, shape-shifting across epochs, reflecting our perpetual striving for meaning and connection in the face of transience.