Crewel Embroidery c. 1936

Mary Berner created this ‘Crewel Embroidery’ artwork, date unknown, with watercolor and graphite on paper. The composition is divided horizontally, featuring two views of the same embroidered design. Above, we see it in color, evoking a sense of warmth with its detailed floral and foliate motifs. The lower half presents the design in monochrome, focusing on its structural elements. Berner employs a semiotic system of natural forms to construct the design, using leaves, stems, and flowers to mimic nature's patterns, yet contained within a controlled, linear format. The chromatic range creates a visual harmony; the interplay of color and form invites a dialogue between artistic expression and the natural world. The two scales suggest a study in detail and utility, juxtaposing the aesthetic with the functional aspects of design. As such, the embroidery oscillates between decorative art and practical blueprint, questioning fixed notions of art's purpose. It invites us to see how art can function not merely as representation but as a critical engagement with our understanding of nature and design.