The Story of Joseph (Furnishing Fabric)
c. 1820
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; engraved roller printed
Dimensions
81.5 × 112.4 cm (32 × 44 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
31525
Art Historical Context
Created around 1820 by François Pieters, *The Story of Joseph* is a striking example early nineteenth-century furnishing fabric. Measuring just over three feet wide, this cotton textile was designed to bring narrative art into everyday domestic spaces. The scene illustrates episodes from the biblical tale of Joseph, transforming a familiar story into a decorative pattern suitable for curtains, upholstery, or bed hangings. The fabric’s medium—plain-weave cotton printed with engraved rollers—reflects the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution. This relatively new printing method al...