Textile Design with Alternating Vertical Rows of Horizontal Strings of Lozenges with Over a Striped Background 1840

This small textile design, now residing at the Met, presents alternating vertical rows of horizontal strings of lozenges over a striped background. Its creator remains anonymous, a fact that opens up questions about the narratives we construct around art and authorship. Without a known artist, we are prompted to consider the broader social context in which such designs were produced. Who was this textile design for? What was its intended use? In the absence of individual identity, we can reflect on the cultural currents that shaped its aesthetics. Was the artist constrained by the fashion trends or expectations of their time? The use of geometric patterns and repeated motifs suggests an interest in functionality. Let yourself ponder the hands that might have brought it into being.