Coverlet (Section of) c. 1940

This is a section of a coverlet made by William Kieckhofel. Look at how he layers those deep blues and whites, like he's building up the pattern thread by thread, decision by decision. There's something really tactile about the surface, isn't there? You can almost feel the different textures as the pattern shifts and unravels. Notice how the weave breaks down toward the center, becoming looser, more fragile. It reminds me that art isn't just about the finished product, but the process. Those frayed edges, that exposed warp and weft, they tell a story of making and unmaking, of time passing and things falling apart. It makes me think of the work of Anni Albers, who also pushed the boundaries of weaving as an art form. Like Albers, Kieckhofel invites us to slow down, to contemplate the beauty and complexity of simple materials, and to find meaning in the imperfections. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, a conversation that spans generations and transcends mediums.