Designs for Embroidery 1800 - 1900

This sheet of "Designs for Embroidery" was made with pen and watercolor on paper by an anonymous artist. In its time, the creation of textiles was central to the social and economic life of Europe. Embroidery was a common occupation for women of different social classes, and knowledge of needlework was seen as a sign of refinement and status. These botanical studies of floral motifs functioned as guides for more elaborate finished pieces. The designs show a growing interest in scientific observation as they depict flowers, leaves, and fruit in meticulous detail. We can learn more about the history of this anonymous design through close visual analysis, study of embroidery guilds and their practices, and attention to the place of women in the European economy. The appreciation of this design deepens when we consider its connections to social context.