Textile
late 18th century
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Elinor Merrell
Accession Number
1973-62-6-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This late 18th-century textile part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, exemplifies the artistry of printed, dyed, and painted from early America. Created during a transformative period following the Revolutionary War, such textiles were essential for household goods, clothing, and trade, reflecting the ingenuity of artisans in colonial and early federal societies. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, its classification highlights sophisticated techniques that blended functionality with decoration. Printed textiles often involved woodblock or early copperp...
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...