Head covering c. 1920

This head covering, of unknown date, by an anonymous artist, uses dye as its medium to striking effect. The bold, almost symmetrical design reminds me that artmaking is a process of layering choices, each mark building upon the last. Look at the way the central motif, a face perhaps, emerges from the fabric. The interplay of black, red, and cream isn't just about color; it's about texture, surface, and the very physicality of the dye on cloth. Notice the way the dye bleeds and blurs, creating soft edges around the circles. It's as if the fabric itself is breathing, the colors seeping into one another like memories fading at the edges. This piece reminds me of Hilma af Klint's early abstract paintings, both in its graphic directness, and its evocation of the otherworldly. Ultimately, this head covering, like all great art, embraces ambiguity, inviting us to see and feel beyond the surface.