Piece
Unknown Artist
1785
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 35 3/4 x W. 21 inches 90.8 x 53.3 cm
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.233.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant printed cotton textile, simply titled *Piece*, hails from in 1785, vibrant era just before the French Revolution when decorative arts flourished in opulent households. Measuring 35¾ by 21 inches (90.8 x 53.3 cm), it showcases intricate motifs of fruit, flowers, leaves—classic botanical elements that evoked the natural bounty of French gardens and countryside. Produced by an unknown artist, such pieces were crafted for furnishings like upholstery or curtains, blending utility with artistry in the European Decorative Arts tradition. Printed on cotton using innovative techniques lik...