Printed Cotton c. 1936

Eugene La Foret created this design for printed cotton using watercolor and graphite. La Foret's work is a product of a moment when the industrial revolution brought about new forms of production which impacted the cultural landscape. The pattern, abundant with flowers and birds, is reminiscent of both Indian and Persian textiles which were widely collected and admired in Europe at this time. It calls to mind the colonial trade routes and the appropriation of cultural motifs. The dense composition mimics the idea of "horror vacui," filling every space to avoid emptiness, a technique used in many historical textiles. The organic forms of the pattern create a soothing rhythm. It is also a visual manifestation of complex colonial histories and the industrialization of design.