Panel 1860 - 1880

This Panel was created by Mathevon et Bouvard using weaving techniques. The sumptuous red fabric you see here speaks to a complex relationship between art, craft, and industry. The process of weaving involves interlacing threads to create a textile; this panel showcases complex skills and artistry. Notice how the patterned repeat emphasizes a mechanized process, one that creates seemingly endless fabric, with the design woven into the very structure of the cloth. The materiality of the panel—its weight, texture, and the way it reflects light—all contribute to its visual appeal. Such textiles are often considered decorative arts, yet the labor and skill involved in their production, along with their cultural significance as status symbols, demonstrate that distinctions between art and craft are blurred. It prompts us to consider the social and economic context in which it was made, including issues of labor, class, and consumption.