Sample
Unknown Artist
ca. 1840
Medium
Cotton
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
French, Mulhouse
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of F.J. Schaetzel, 1919
Accession Number
19.26.44
Art Historical Context
This printed cotton textile sample, created around 1840 by an unknown artist in Mulhouse, France, offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of 19th-century decorative arts Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Department, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Mulhouse, a renowned center for textile production in Alsace. Mulhouse's factories were pioneers in high-quality printed cottons, blending artistry with industrial innovation to supply fashionable fabrics across Europe and beyond. Printed textiles like this one were essential to everyday life,...