Fragment of a Mummy Shroud
2nd/3rd century
Medium
Linen, plain weave
Dimensions
46 × 29 cm (11 × 18 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55038
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This fragment comes from a linen shroud for a mummified individual. The complete, painted shroud bore a head-to-toe, life-size image of a woman in colorful garments. The fragment here shows the stripes on her sleeve and the patterned strap running down her breast. The figure, whose curly black hair hangs over her shoulder, represents both the deceased and the goddess Hathor. To the left of her shoulder, the pillar-like djed hieroglyph evokes stability, while the partial figure of a knife-wieldin...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...