Textile
ca. 1790
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Elsie de Wolfe
Accession Number
1897-1-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This enchanting textile, dating to around 1790, hails from the early Federal period in American history—a time of national optimism following the Revolutionary War. Classified as a printed, dyed, and painted textile, it exemplifies the skilled craftsmanship of the era, when artisans combined multiple techniques to create vibrant, durable fabrics for clothing, furnishings, or decorative use. Though the exact medium and artist remain unknown, such pieces were often produced in workshops blending European influences with emerging American ingenuity, reflecting growing textile industries in places...
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...