Quilt Block 1935 - 1942

Florence Truelson, born in Kansas, made this Quilt Block using cotton and thread. Quilting was a widespread practice in the United States, particularly among women in rural communities. In the absence of other forms of artistic expression or institutional recognition, quilting offered an opportunity for creativity, skill-sharing, and community-building. Truelson's choice of subject matter, the strawberry, could be interpreted in various ways. On the one hand, the strawberry, often associated with summer, represents fertility and abundance. On the other hand, it can symbolize domesticity. We could see the artist's handiwork as a celebration of her social role. Scholarly research into local histories and craft traditions can help us understand the historical and social context in which a piece such as this one was made. Quilts like these are a reminder that the meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context.