Handwoven Coverlet 1936

Editor: This is a "Handwoven Coverlet" from 1936 by Howard H. Sherman. It's textile art, a weaving. It strikes me as very patriotic, with all the eagles and what seems to be Washington on horseback. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see this piece as deeply embedded within the social and political landscape of its time. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, there was a renewed interest in American folk art and craft traditions, almost a longing for a simpler, perhaps imagined, past. Does the phrase "United we stand, divided we fall" resonate with you in light of that period? Editor: Yes, absolutely! It's a stark reminder of the anxieties of the time. But what about the choice of materials and the weaving itself? Curator: Exactly. The handwoven nature of the coverlet pushes back against industrialization and mass production, offering a visual representation of labor and individual skill. Consider how craft traditions have historically been marginalized or devalued, especially in relation to women's work. How does this impact your reading of the piece? Editor: I hadn't thought about that. It’s a powerful point - seeing the piece as a statement on labor and value. It gives me a deeper understanding. Curator: It also subtly weaves together the personal and the political, inviting us to contemplate larger narratives about nationalism, economic stability, and the role of art within society. So what did you gain? Editor: I initially saw a patriotic symbol, now I understand its connections to economics, gender, and the romanticized history. That's amazing.