Quilt Top 1935 - 1942

Suzanne Roy made this watercolor rendering of a quilt top at an unknown date, likely in the United States where she lived and worked. The quilt shows a collection of unique patterns, each contained within a square, surrounded by a border of green leaves. The image brings together traditional crafts and fine art, referencing practices historically associated with women and the domestic sphere. Suzanne Roy’s image exists within the social history of quilting as a form of artistic expression and community building. We might consider, how does the image comment on the social structures of its time? Is it self-consciously conservative or progressive? Does it critique the institutions of art? These are the questions a historian of art might ask. Further research into quilting communities and the artist's biography could provide a deeper understanding of the artwork’s cultural and institutional context.