Coverlet c. 1940

This coverlet was made by Cornelius Christoffels, who lived from 1879 to 1960. It has been constructed via the process of weaving, a simple act that results in something complex and beautiful. The color palette is restrained, limited to blacks, grays, and creams. The texture is built up through the process of weaving, an accretion of horizontal and vertical threads which are then woven in all sorts of patterns. In the very center, there's a concentrated little square of woven lines that almost looks like a minimalist painting. This relates to the entire piece, as the whole surface is made up of similar squares and rectangles. You know, this coverlet reminds me of Anni Albers' weaving or even some Agnes Martin paintings. It's all about the grid, rhythm, and repetition. There’s always more than one way to see things; that's what's great about art, right?