Applique Quilt 1935 - 1942

Mildred E. Bent created this Applique Quilt, a textile work, featuring geometric and floral motifs. The piece is dominated by a grid of square panels, each containing a concentric design of red squares within green circles, surrounded by smaller red flowers and green foliage. The quilt's structure relies on repetition and symmetry, creating a visually harmonious pattern. The choice of red and green, complementary colors, enhances the visual impact and balance of the composition. The design hints at folk art traditions but also carries echos of early abstract art through its use of simplified forms and structured arrangements. The repetitive nature of the quilt and its geometric patterns suggest a deeper engagement with ideas of order and structure found in both the natural world and human design. The quilt invites us to consider how simple forms, when carefully arranged, can create intricate and meaningful aesthetic experiences, reflecting broader cultural concerns about order, beauty, and utility.