Silk Bed Quilt c. 1941

Editor: So, this is "Silk Bed Quilt," made around 1941 by Elgin Moncure Styll. It appears to be mixed media, incorporating drawings and textiles. It's quite captivating how Styll simulates a quilt through these various media. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: The deceptive use of drawing to emulate textile, especially silk, pushes against typical art hierarchies. Why use colored pencil and mixed media to painstakingly recreate something usually crafted from fabric and thread? This suggests Styll is commenting on the value we place on labor and traditional "women's work." Editor: That's interesting! So it’s not just about representing a quilt, but about making a statement on the artistic medium? Curator: Exactly. The materiality is key. This work challenges us to consider the social and economic implications embedded in artistic production and consumption. Were materials scarce? Was the creation of the textile a longing of accessibility or a commentary on labor itself? What sort of consumption habits do you believe existed at the time this drawing was made? Editor: I hadn't considered the materials in that light. I guess I just saw it as a quaint depiction of a quilt. Thinking about material scarcity due to the ongoing WWII opens up new lines of interpretation. Curator: Right! The visual vocabulary is deceptively simple. Styll is making us think about what we value, the labour involved, and the socioeconomic context from which art arises, especially considering Folk art which this artwork appears to be categorized as. Editor: This has completely changed how I see it. It’s not just an image of a quilt, but a statement about material culture. Thank you for the clarification! Curator: And I appreciate you noticing that this is deceptively material in both production and imagery! It shows you are on the right path to appreciating art in its entirety.