Woman's blouse (Huipil) c. 20th century

This Woman's blouse, or Huipil, was made anonymously, and you can really feel the hand in it. The red on white is just so striking, but it’s the embroidery that grabs me. You can almost see the artist working, stitch by stitch, building up these patterns. Up close, you can see the tiny crosses of thread, each one a little different. They create this textured surface that’s not just visual; you want to reach out and touch it. The colors pop against the red, like little jewels, and the whole thing has this incredible energy. I love how the bottom edge of the red panel bleeds into the white base, it feels as though the design is alive and reaching for the edges of the blouse. It reminds me of some of the work of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, who brought the same playful eye to her textile works. This piece feels like it's part of that same conversation, and just like any good conversation, it leaves you with more questions than answers.