Kesrowan c. mid 20th century

This textile, known as Kesrowan, was made by an anonymous artist with what appears to be dyed cotton. The neutral palette gives the piece a reserved appearance and the mark making feels very intuitive, almost accidental, but is in fact very precise. Up close, the tiny, delicate dotting and dashes of dark brown, black and grey create subtle shifts in tone, and a quiet shimmering effect. The patterns on either side – those columns of interlocked tear shapes and rows of criss-cross motifs – create a powerful visual rhythm. They almost seem to move, like watching a dance. And then there's the materiality of the woven cotton, so that you know this was made by hand. Thinking about the history of weaving and the possibilities for pattern making reminds me of the work of Anni Albers. Like Albers, this piece is about embracing the ambiguity of art – a conversation between the eye, the hand, and the loom.