Sampler 1788

This sampler was stitched by Elizabeth Last, using linen and silk threads. These textiles, commonplace to us, were precious materials, requiring intensive agricultural labor and skilled production. The sampler’s visual impact hinges on the tension between the delicate fabric and the dense embroidery. Observe the counting of threads that Last had to follow to create these geometric patterns. The needle becomes a tool of precision, yet the irregularities in the stitching remind us of the human hand involved. The act of stitching, often associated with domesticity and female labor, becomes a powerful form of expression and skill acquisition. This piece also demonstrates an aesthetic education: see the formal arrangements of plants, animals, and geometric shapes. Samplers like this one challenge our notions of "high art" by highlighting the artistic potential embedded in everyday practices, revealing the historical connections between art, labor, and life.