Towel c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing piece from the 19th century, currently attributed to an anonymous artist: a textile work simply titled "Towel." It's comprised of cotton, silk, and other fibers, rendered with a delicate weaving technique. Editor: My first impression? Quiet domesticity, almost austere. The colors are muted, the pattern restrained. I’m curious, though, what this towel meant in its original context. Curator: Textiles of this era often carry symbolic weight beyond their functional purpose. The repeated motifs of floral arrangements may be referencing themes of nature's abundance, prosperity, or even hidden coded messages within the family or culture where it was created. Editor: It does strike me that the flowers look stylized, almost regimented. Is this an indication of societal expectations imposed on women in the 19th century? A kind of forced conformity, perhaps, expressed through the "appropriate" medium of needlework? Curator: It's plausible. Women's artistry was sometimes dismissed as mere craft, yet they cleverly wove complex expressions of identity and even resistance into their work. The color choices too - soft pinks, muted blues and greens. What meanings are evoked for you? Editor: Pink for femininity, of course, a trope reinforced in so many aspects of life, from dress to decor. Blue could represent piety or loyalty, depending on the shade and context. And green, potentially hope or new beginnings. But it's the stark contrast with the expanse of undecorated fabric that is compelling. Is that just wear and tear, or a design element? Curator: It's hard to be sure without examining it closely, but I would be reluctant to describe it only as utilitarian, even with that unadorned centre section. It's important to remember the care and intention put into each stitch; such painstaking weaving spoke to the patience and skill expected of women, or potentially of enslaved women. Editor: Exactly, we cannot divorce this 'Towel' from its place within the gendered division of labour, especially concerning household duties. We need to confront the inequalities in how textile skills have been assigned and often exploited based on gender and social status. Curator: It seems a small item but actually speaks to vast subjects of gender, labor, and artistry of a specific period. Editor: Yes, "Towel", as a title, undersells what we now recognize in the visual traces of history.