Mise-en-carte (Point-paper)
1787
Medium
Ink and gouache on hand drawn graph paper
Dimensions
43.8 × 51.3 cm (17 1/4 × 32 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148915
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 18th-century textile design with *Mise-en-carte (Point-paper)* by J. Bt. Clere, created in 1787. This delicate work, measuring 43.8 × 51.3 cm, is rendered in ink and gouache on hand-drawn graph paper, showcasing the precision required for crafting complex woven patterns. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Textiles Department, it exemplifies the preparatory art of weaving, where every grid square represented a potential warp or weft thread. Known as "point-paper" or *mise-en-carte* in French textile traditions, this medium was essential for looms before t...