Panel c. 20th century

This textile panel, whose maker is now unknown, hangs at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I can only imagine the methodical process of weaving, the careful construction of a piece like this. Its stripes of earthy orange and olive hues remind me of Agnes Martin’s grid paintings. There’s a similar calm, a serene and muted energy. The artist no doubt worked with an intention, each thread deliberately placed with the final composition in mind. But, like the best paintings, I also sense room for error and improvisation. I find myself wondering about the significance of the fringe, the threads hanging loose at either end. Is it a painterly gesture that mirrors a drip or a stroke of the brush? I can see this piece influencing future generations of artists. We are all, after all, in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. And that’s a conversation worth having.