Cross-Stitch Antimacassar c. 1937

Elmer Weise made this cross-stitch antimacassar, or furniture cover, from fabric and thread. The image depicts a figure on horseback, surrounded by a decorative border. Cross-stitch is a basic form of embroidery in which X-shaped stitches create a tiled effect. It's a slow, careful technique, and the density of stitches here suggests considerable labor. The imagery is simple and the aesthetic decidedly homespun, far from the sleek lines of industrial design. In the past, embroidery was often associated with domestic work and female labor, yet Weise was a male artist. Perhaps he was reclaiming this traditionally feminine craft, or simply using available means to create his art. The antimacassar itself speaks to a particular social context, designed to protect furniture from the oils in hair. This piece invites us to consider how everyday materials and processes can be elevated to art, and how gendered associations of labor can be challenged through creative practice. It blurs the lines between craft and fine art.