Khilim rug c. 19th century

This Khilim rug was made by an anonymous weaver using traditional techniques and materials. It shows an understanding of the symbolic role that textiles played in many cultures. The geometry and color schemes of this rug may seem abstract to the modern viewer, but they would have been instantly legible to its original audience. Scholars of textiles can trace the cultural references and historical associations woven into this piece. The country and time in which it was made would have given specific features, such as geography, religion, social class, political movements, and economic structures, which likely influenced the artwork. Rugs like this comment on the social structures of their own time. Historians rely on various research resources to contextualize art. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.