Textile
1785â95
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane
Accession Number
1953-19-3-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Textile* from 1785–95, in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, exemplifies the artistry of printed, dyed, and painted fabrics during the early years of the American republic. Created by an unknown artist, it reflects a time when textiles were essential to daily life, adorning homes, clothing families, and symbolizing emerging national identity just a decade after the Revolutionary War. Acquired through a museum purchase funded by the gift of Mrs John Innes Kane, joins the Smithsonian Collection as a tangible link to 18th-century craftsmanship. The classification highlights sop...
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...