Sheet with overall red circular pattern 1700 - 1800

This anonymous sheet with an overall red circular pattern, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, invites us to consider the unseen hands and untold stories woven into its creation. This patterned sheet offers a glimpse into the world of textile production, a realm often dominated by marginalized communities. The creation of patterns like these frequently relied on the labor of women and people of color, whose contributions have historically been undervalued and overlooked in both art and economics. The repetition of the red circles speaks to the labor-intensive processes that shaped textile production, and invites reflection upon those whose stories may be obscured. These kinds of works challenge traditional notions of authorship and artistic genius, urging us to recognize the collective effort and cultural exchange inherent in the creation of textiles. Let this anonymous pattern inspire us to see the unseen, to ask questions about who made it and under what circumstances, and to appreciate the beauty and resilience that can be found in the everyday objects that surround us.