Panel c. 20th century

This beautiful panel, made by an anonymous artist, is a riot of color and intricate stitching. The purple ground, a deep and saturated hue, sets off the yellows, oranges, and greens in a way that feels both vibrant and harmonious, like a garden in full bloom, but one carefully tended, each element thoughtfully placed. What I love about this piece is the way the stitches build up the texture, creating a surface that begs to be touched. Look at how the repeated motifs – are they flowers, instruments, or something else entirely? – create a sense of rhythm and movement. It's almost like the artist is improvising, playing with pattern and color like a musician riffs on a melody. The border, with its geometric design, adds another layer of complexity and visual interest. It reminds me a bit of some of the quilts made by the Gee’s Bend quilters – a similar sense of freedom and experimentation, of making something beautiful and meaningful out of simple materials. And that, to me, is what art is all about: taking what you have and transforming it into something new and unexpected.