Curvo Pattern Upholstery Fabric Sample c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Otti Berger's "Curvo Pattern Upholstery Fabric Sample," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so tactile, almost like a warm, comforting blanket. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It whispers of the Bauhaus, doesn't it? Berger, a student there, embraced the beauty in utility. This isn't just fabric; it's a testament to the merging of art, craft, and industry. Can you imagine this covering a Wassily chair? Editor: Oh, definitely. It makes you think about design as a full sensory experience, not just something pretty to look at. Curator: Exactly! It invites touch, evokes a feeling. And Otti Berger's story… a powerful reminder of the human cost of prejudice and intolerance. Editor: Absolutely, learning about her life definitely adds another layer of meaning to the work. Curator: Indeed. Art, life, and memory interwoven.