Coverlet Detail c. 1941

This is a detail of a coverlet by Miriam Y. Solomon. Born in 1855, Solomon lived through a period of rapid industrialization and social change, when the role of women in the domestic sphere was both idealized and increasingly scrutinized. This textile fragment invites us to consider the intersections of gender, labor, and domesticity. Before industrialization, weaving was a crucial skill often passed down through generations of women. The creation of coverlets was not just a practical task but a form of artistic expression, a means of preserving cultural heritage. Within the domestic sphere, women found ways to assert their creativity and agency. The coverlet offers insight into the texture of daily life, and reflects the emotional investments that women poured into their homes and families. It's a reminder that the domestic sphere, often devalued, was a site of labor, creativity, and resistance.