Mise-en-carte (Point-paper)
1760/90
Medium
Ink and gouache on hand drawn graph paper
Dimensions
34 × 54.6 cm (13 3/8 × 21 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148916
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 18th textile design with *Mise-en-carte (Point-paper)*, a meticulously crafted pattern from around 1760–. Created by an unknown artist using ink and gouache on-drawn graph paper, this34 × 54.6 cm sheet resides in the Art Institute of's Textiles Department. The title, French for "layout" or "pattern setup," its purpose: a blueprint for weaving complex fabrics on a drawloom, where each tiny square represents the intersection of warp and weft threads. This point-paper technique was revolutionary for its time, allowing designers to map elaborate motifs—like floral...
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...