Towel c. 19th century

This undated towel of undetermined origin was crafted anonymously from cotton and linen, then embellished with drawn and pulled thread work. Consider the labor and materials involved in the production of even a simple item like this. The cotton and linen had to be cultivated, harvested, spun, and woven. The embroidery required skill and patience. Who did this work, and under what conditions? Was it a professional textile worker, or someone working within the domestic sphere? How does the anonymity of the artist affect our understanding of the piece, as opposed to other textiles of known provenance? What social norms or artistic conventions were being adhered to or challenged here? These are the kinds of questions that social and cultural historians bring to the study of art. We can consult historical documents, patterns, and textile studies to contextualize this object and imagine the world in which it was made and used. The meaning of this towel shifts as its social and institutional context is better understood.