Crewel Embroidered Chair Seat c. 1936

Phyllis Dorr made this crewel embroidered chair seat sometime in her long life, probably using wool threads on a linen or cotton ground. I can imagine Dorr carefully choosing each color, building up the textures stitch by stitch. Look at the way the vibrant blues, reds and yellows bring this fantastically exotic garden to life. The peacock’s plumage bursts with energy. It reminds me of Matisse's cutouts, or maybe even some outsider art. You can almost feel Dorr's presence in each stitch, a testament to her patience and vision. It also reminds us of the long lineage of women artists, working in a world that was slow to embrace their contribution to visual culture. Her process of stitching and layering is like a painter building up brushstrokes, creating a unique and intimate work. It’s a reminder that art, no matter the medium, is always in dialogue.