Images(3)

Textile, woodblock-print

Date1770-1790

OriginEurope, France (probably)

MediumCotton

Dimensions26" (66 cm) H x 8 1/2" (21.6cm) W.

Credit LineGift of F. Schumacher and Company.

Object number1978-197,1

DescriptionIrregularly shaped textile document of plain-woven cotton, woodblock-printed in madder colors of red, pink, purple and dark brown outlines, with the addition of pencil blue. The design consists of meandering purple stems with spiky leaves, abstracted flowers and pointed seed pods. The textile is somewhat crudely printed and not registered accurately. Raw edges on all sides. The textile is one of two fragments with the same pattern (see 1978-197, 2). No complete pattern repeat.
Label TextThese textiles show the rapidity with which pencil blue was applied. Blue colors extend beyond the outlines of the design and stray drops speckle the surface.