Hooked Rug c. 1936

This is Lillian M. Mosseller's Hooked Rug, made with watercolor and graphite on paper. I love that in this piece, Lillian takes something we might normally walk all over, a rug, and elevates it. The wreath of delicate flowers and the twisting vines create a sense of growth and life. The background's a soft, earthy tone, and it’s like she’s given us a glimpse into a secret garden. It’s not just about the pretty colors; it’s also about the making. There’s a subtle roughness to the edges that reminds me of the tactile, hands-on nature of rug hooking. Look at the texture in those leaves and petals! Lillian wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty with her materials, embracing the physical aspects of her medium. Reminds me of some of the work by the Pattern and Decoration artists, like Joyce Kozloff, who saw so much meaning in the domestic.