Pillow Sham c. 1936

Edna Rex made this pencil drawing of a pillow sham without a known date. It offers a glimpse into domestic life and artistic expression outside traditional art institutions. Textile patterns, such as the one here with vertical stripes and a lace edge, were widely circulated through magazines and instructional books. These offered women a creative outlet within the home, reinforcing gendered divisions of labor, yet also enabling artistic agency. Without knowing the exact year this drawing was made, it’s difficult to place it within the arts and crafts movement or other artistic trends. But its existence speaks to the democratization of art, as everyday people engaged with design and craft. Historians can explore sources like women's magazines, domestic advice manuals, and census records to understand the broader cultural context. Examining this artwork, alongside such sources, reveals how art history extends far beyond museum walls, encompassing the creativity and lives of ordinary people.