Design for a Woven Fabric
1815-1840
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1909-13-66
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the inventive world of early 19th-century American with *Design for a Woven*, a delicate drawing created between 1815 and 1840. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, this artwork captures a pivotal era when the United States was rapidly industrializing. The post-War of 1812 period saw booming textile mills, especially in New England, where patterned fabrics became symbols of emerging national identity and consumer culture. As a preparatory drawing, it likely served as a blueprint for looms, guiding weavers in crafting intricate motifs for clothing, upholstery, o...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...