Textile
ca. 1860
Medium
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1973-25-14
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Textile* from around 1860, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, exemplifies the artistry of mid-19th-century American production. Created by an unknown maker, it showcases the medium of printed, dyed, and painted textiles—a versatile technique that combined industrial innovation with handcrafted skill. During this era, just before the Civil War, textiles were central to daily life, adorning homes, clothing families, and even serving patriotic purposes like quilts and banners. The piece highlights sophisticated methods: printing likely involved wooden blo...
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...