Shawl c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have a “Shawl,” crafted in the 19th century, origin unknown. It resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: My first thought? Dizzying. Absolutely visually dizzying, in a way that's also completely hypnotic. Curator: I agree, and let's start to unravel why. This textile presents us with a riot of geometric designs that are firmly entrenched in a specific style. Editor: Right, you can see what they're doing with the colors; warm against cool creating real vibrancy but within a pretty formal structure and the eye definitely returns to the center of the artwork. Curator: Yes. There's an undeniable current of Orientalism flowing through this work. The overall aesthetic, the patterns used. It transports the viewer. It is so richly decorated, you can see how important this would be to the owner. Editor: So interesting you said transport…I wonder if shawls like these, made their owners feel secure, loved, remembered perhaps…I love thinking that items like this absorb meaning. And become totems in themselves. Curator: Indeed. Looking closely, we can also observe how meticulously the textile has been crafted. You might feel the border creates a sense of containment, but in some ways the whole object can also be interpreted as expanding beyond itself—with its radiating composition. Editor: It's the kind of work that makes me think of a faraway land...a sensory experience beyond seeing. The maker has definitely shared part of themself when creating this textile. Curator: Indeed. And I suspect there are countless stories, whispered in time, embedded within its folds and threads.