Fragment Possibly 1000 - 1476

Editor: This is "Fragment," a Chancay textile likely woven sometime between 1000 and 1476. It's at the Art Institute of Chicago. The abstracted figures woven into this circular cloth look almost like mirror images, though clearly unique. What narratives or social contexts might illuminate this textile? Curator: Well, consider how pre-Columbian textiles, particularly those from the Chancay culture, were often far more than decorative. We must think of them as vital components of social and political life. Who might have commissioned this work and what roles would it serve within that community? Was it for burial rituals, social stratification or expressions of cosmological beliefs? Editor: So it could have had a ritual function... looking at the shared legs, perhaps these are conjoined figures from their mythology? Curator: It's possible, or the visual symmetry might reflect deeper social structures. The Chancay were master weavers and this is from a pre-writing culture: the iconography holds meaning. We also must remember the legacy of colonialism: fragments such as these only survive today due to grave looting; these textiles' presence in Western museum collections are politically charged spaces to engage with today. How does that fact change your perspective? Editor: That context makes me consider not just the artistry but also how we engage respectfully with cultural heritage. Is it possible that this work’s fragment status enhances its abstraction? Curator: Yes, I think that’s right. Our perception of the work in its incomplete state invites further speculation but remember also, the incomplete state invites assumptions that fill the void of historical documentation. Perhaps abstraction wasn't just stylistic, but also served to obscure meaning from outsiders. Editor: So much to think about! This look behind the aesthetic value really adds a valuable layer to its interpretation. Curator: Indeed! Looking beyond the visual informs a greater understanding of how deeply entwined art, society, and power are.