Bedspread c. 19th century

This bedspread was made with dyed or painted textile, by an anonymous artist. Visually, the bedspread is dominated by a structured grid of stylized floral motifs in red, blue, and green against an off-white ground. The repeated floral patterns, bordered by abstract shapes, establish a rhythm that is both visually pleasing and deeply formal. The artist creates a system of signs, where the floral motif acts not just as a decorative element but as a signifier of broader ideas about nature and culture. This challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine arts and decorative arts. The materiality of the textile invites questions about its creation, use and cultural circulation. The regular repetition and symmetry of the patterns, offer a space to engage with ideas of structuralism and semiotics. By creating an ordered system the anonymous artist invites us to decode its underlying structure and consider its role in shaping our understanding of beauty, function, and the everyday.