Embroidered Coverlet c. 1936

Jules Lefevere made this Embroidered Coverlet, a drawing on paper, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Look at how the density of detail creates a feeling of abundance. It is full of botanical forms, leaves and flowers. Lefevere seems to want to fill the space. Imagine the care and time involved in realizing the original object in thread. Think of each stitch as a mark, slowly building up the image. The green base is quite soft, with loose brushwork creating subtle tonal variations. This gives the impression of a woven cloth, a backdrop for the more defined floral motifs. Look closely at the garlands of blue flowers winding down the surface. The simple repeated shape creates a delicate rhythm, contrasting with the looser, more organic forms nearby. The drawing feels very close to folk art traditions, but I am also reminded of the more recent work of artists like Ghada Amer, who use embroidery as a critical commentary on gender and identity. This is what is so fantastic about art, the connections we make across time.