Breast band c. 20th century

This breast band was made by an anonymous artist, and it's now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Imagine the hours spent on this woven artwork. The maker worked meticulously, weaving with dark reds and blacks to create zigzag and diamond patterns. I can almost feel the weaver’s presence as they sat at their loom, patiently interlacing each thread, their hands moving deliberately. Were they thinking of something else, or were they totally absorbed? You see how the bands contrast against the geometric forms? That kind of color play always gets me! It’s kind of like Albers, or Sean Scully. Artists look at each other’s work and learn from each other, even across time and cultures. The small imperfections and variations in the pattern give it a very human touch. I am deeply moved by the intimacy of this kind of art, and how it embodies the passing of time.