Patchwork Square c. 1936

Mabel Ritter made this patchwork square, though the exact date of its creation remains unknown. Squares of pink, green, and gold are set on the diagonal against larger expanses of plain paper. The art of quilting and patchwork has long been associated with women's domestic labor, often outside the realms of formal artistic institutions. But the use of geometric forms and patterns could also be considered a form of visual expression in its own right, offering an important outlet for creativity and skill. These skills were passed down within families and communities, and quilting bees were sites of social interaction and exchange. The historian might consider the types of fabrics used, the patterns employed, and the techniques utilized to understand this artwork better. This helps us appreciate the complex social and cultural context in which it was made, and to question traditional boundaries between craft and art.