Fragment
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the Fall River Historical Society
Accession Number
1939-56-8-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This intriguing *Fragment* from 1876, produced by Print Works—a textile firm founded in 1835—offers a glimpse into America's booming industrial textile industry during the nation's centennial year. Classified as a printed, dyed, and painted textile it survives as a modest remnant in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, generously gifted by the Fall River Historical Society Though research is ongoing, its presence highlights the era's explosive growth in fabric, centered in mill towns like those in Massachusetts and New Jersey. At a time when the U.S. celebrated its 100th birthday w...