Embroidery Piece c. 1936

Raymond Manupelli created this Embroidery Piece using an unknown medium. The composition immediately strikes one as a formal arrangement, almost a study, of various embroidered floral elements. The texture of the underlying fabric provides a tactile contrast to the smooth, patterned stitches. The use of embroidery subverts traditional notions of high art, inviting considerations of craft. Each element is rendered with meticulous attention to detail. Here the artist plays with color and form; each flower type is distinctly colored to create a visually balanced bouquet. The formal arrangement of elements is disrupted by the slight irregularities of the handmade embroidery. The structure of the artwork doesn't just display technical skill but interrogates the distinction between art and craft. It invites us to reconsider the values we assign to different forms of artistic expression.