The Irish Volunteers (Furnishing Fabric) 1782

Curator: At first glance, it’s busy but has a charming, almost naive quality to it. Like a storybook come to life on…wallpaper? Editor: Indeed. What you're seeing is "The Irish Volunteers (Furnishing Fabric)" dating back to 1782. The artist, Gabriel Beranger, rendered this piece with a combination of weaving and printmaking techniques, possibly complemented by watercolours, now residing here at The Art Institute of Chicago. Curator: Ah, "furnishing fabric" explains the, shall we say, repeating narrative structure. It reminds me of those old panoramic wallpapers, but with a distinctly…military vibe? So much red! Rows and rows of them. What does it all symbolize? Editor: Red coats were standard for the British Army at this time, so what appears as a celebratory design in support of "the Volunteers" may have complicated implications. It's rife with historical symbolism regarding the British military presence in Ireland. Note how Beranger has positioned these forces alongside imagery of local Irish life. Consider this juxtaposition when discerning his artistic intention. Curator: Right, and the presence of both military formations and civilian activities creates an interesting tension, or rather a continuous pattern. I keep returning to how this material was *intended* for the home, which makes it more unsettling to think about…war or subjugation framed like idyllic wallpaper. Editor: I agree; this “furnishing fabric” straddles domestic comfort and nationalistic assertion in a curious dance. Woven into the fabric—literally and figuratively—are the tensions between political identity, national allegiance, and everyday experience. The symbolism operates on multiple layers. It’s like visual shorthand for a society grappling with identity and sovereignty, imprinted on their very domestic sphere. Curator: Well, now my head is spinning! I walked in expecting a decorative piece and I'm leaving contemplating nationalism, British Imperialism, and the subversive potential of textiles! Editor: Precisely the beauty of Beranger's work—it subtly nudges us to reconsider familiar tropes within broader historical currents. It’s a history lesson cleverly disguised as decor.