Covering c. 1925

This object, called "Covering," was meticulously made, probably with thread on fabric, by an anonymous artist. Look at the process! It's all in the making. The surface is densely packed with shapes and symbols, so physical in its presence. The red is almost overwhelming, but the smaller shapes and patterns soften it. Take for instance, the tiny mirrors dotted throughout the composition. Those, to me, suggest some kind of magical thinking. It's almost like the artist is setting out to map the world. It calls to mind the work of someone like Paul Klee, with his intuitive sense of color and composition. These kinds of objects embrace ambiguity. They invite us to bring our own interpretations, and to see the world in new and unexpected ways.