Textile
ca. 1860
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Lincoln Johnson
Accession Number
1975-85-4-2-a/c
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This captivating *Textile* from around 1860 exemplifies the artistry of 19th-century American fabric production, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian. Classified as a printed, dyed, and painted textile it showcases a multifaceted technique where patterns were likely applied through block printing or stencils, enriched by dyes for color depth and hand-painted details for personalization. Such methods were labor-intensive, blending utility with decoration in an era when textiles adorned homes, clothing, and ceremonial objects. Created during the turbulent years leading to...
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...