"Climbing Roses" 1765 - 1775

J.R. Wetter’s "Climbing Roses" invites us into the world of textile design with its dense pattern of roses, thorns, and dragonflies set against a pink backdrop. Textiles have historically been intertwined with gender and class. Before the Industrial Revolution textiles were often the product of women's work. This design, however, marks a shift as pattern-making became increasingly industrialized and commercialized. While the imagery may evoke traditional notions of feminine beauty through the roses, the dragonflies introduce an element of nature’s capriciousness. The climbing roses also present an alternative narrative. Roses climb and spread as if they are attempting to escape their boundaries. Consider how “Climbing Roses” disrupts conventional expectations of domesticity and how it intertwines nature's beauty with subtle rebellion.