Handwoven Coverlet (Detail) c. 1937

This is a detail of a handwoven coverlet created by Fred Peterson, an American artist born in 1855. The coverlet features a geometric pattern of interlocking squares and crosses, rendered in muted tones. The cross motif, central to the composition, has long been a symbol of intersection, transition, and hope across cultures. We find it as the ‘crossroads’ in ancient Roman city planning, imbued with notions of connectivity and destiny. Later, it became emblematic of Christian faith and sacrifice, deeply embedded in the Western psyche. Here, in Peterson's work, the crosses are woven into the fabric, suggesting the integration of faith and hope into the domestic sphere. It speaks to the cyclical nature of life, loss, and renewal, echoing the comfort and warmth that the coverlet would provide, a silent guardian against the night's terrors. The fringe at the edges adds another layer of visual texture, evoking the boundary between the known and the unknown.