Patchwork Quilt 1935 - 1942

Alois E. Ulrich, born in 1855 and died in 1995, made this patchwork quilt of unknown date with an unknown medium. The composition presents a grid-like structure of nested squares, each section varying in color. The texture appears soft and quilted, with concentric lines suggesting a hand-stitched quality. This creates a sense of warmth. Ulrich uses the formal structure of a quilt, traditionally a domestic craft, to explore ideas of pattern, repetition, and variation. The quilt challenges fixed meanings of art by elevating a functional object to an aesthetic one. The arrangement of squares and the subtle variations within each block may be interpreted as a play on semiotic systems, where each color and pattern acts as a signifier. The quilt’s structure reflects broader artistic concerns related to the grid—an underlying organizational structure—and the handmade. These create meaning through the interplay of texture and color. This patchwork serves not only as a visual object but also as a cultural artifact. Its ongoing interpretation invites reflection on how everyday objects can embody artistic expression.