Sampler c. 1941

This embroidered sampler was made by Charles Bowman, who lived from 1855 to 1995. It depicts three figures in period clothing. It’s funny to imagine Bowman, sitting and stitching away, carefully choosing each thread, lost in concentration as he built up this image, stitch by stitch. Looking at this piece, I wonder about Bowman’s process. Did he work from a pattern, or did he come up with this scene all on his own? What was he thinking about as his fingers flew? Each stitch seems so deliberate, so full of intention. Look at the way he used color to create depth and texture in the clothing of the figures; see the tiny stitches that make up the girl’s dress, the way he varied the colors to create a sense of movement. Bowman's act of creation, stitch after stitch, reminds us that making art is about engaging with the world and connecting with others, one thoughtful gesture at a time.