Sheet with overall pattern of stripes and dashes 1800 - 1900

This small patterned sheet resides in the Met’s collection, created by an anonymous artist. Though undated, it invites questions about the labour and social contexts surrounding its making. Its anonymous status is striking. Historically, art made by women and people of colour has often been overlooked or misattributed, reflecting a bias in the art world. This piece, with its simple yet meticulous pattern of stripes and dashes, could represent the countless unnamed artisans whose work shaped visual culture, but whose individual identities were erased. It could also be a child's drawing. The pattern itself—orderly, yet imperfect—evokes the tension between standardization and individuality. I wonder, does this piece challenge traditional notions of authorship, or does it inadvertently reinforce historical power structures? What feelings does this sheet evoke in you?