Panel c. 20th century

Here we have a panel, made by an anonymous artist, using indigo dye. The deep indigo background gives this panel a somber, almost meditative quality, but it’s offset by that horizontal band of purple and a fine line of silver. It cuts across the center like a visual caesura. The texture looks rough and homespun, and you can almost imagine the artisan who made it, patiently repeating the same movements over and over, a process that becomes its own kind of mark-making. I’m drawn to that slightly frayed edge on the right side of the purple band. It’s a reminder that this object was made by a human hand, and that it has a history that we can only guess at. This piece reminds me of the work of Gee’s Bend quilters, who transformed discarded materials into stunning works of art. Like their quilts, this panel embraces imperfection and invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the handmade.