Automobile Fabric c. 20th century

This anonymous piece of Automobile Fabric, likely made by machine, shows how art can be found in the most unexpected places. The repetitive pattern, with its dark lozenges, reminds me of a field seen from above, each shape a tiny, unknowable plot. Up close, you can see the weave—how the threads interlock, creating a texture that’s both smooth and subtly rough. This tension between order and chaos, between the planned design and the accidents of its making, is what grabs me. There’s a give-and-take here, a conversation between intention and material. Think about the human hand that guided the machine, a collaborative process resulting in something we might overlook, but that holds its own quiet beauty. It makes me think of Anni Albers, who elevated weaving to an art form. Like Albers, this anonymous artist—or designer, or manufacturer—understood that even the most functional object can possess a deep, resonant aesthetic. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just in museums; it’s woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.