Panel
Date19th century
Label TextThe triumph of geometric design
Designs that twist and turn are sewn into cloths created out of palm trees. Kuba men of the Democratic Republic of the Congo grew palms that could produce fronds as long as fifty feet. Men wove the basic cloth, while women added cut pile embroidery of intricate geometries. Spontaneous shifts in alignment and constant pattern experimentation are hallmarks of Kuba cloth. Admired by many European artists, Kuba cloth was prominently displayed in the studio of the artist Henri Matisse. He was an obvious fan of this bold geometry, incorporating elements in his paper cut-outs and still life paintings.
Object number84.70
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, The Untold Story, November 14, 2003 - November 14, 2004Credit LineMary Arrington Small Estate Acquisition Fund
Dimensions15 3/8 in. (39 cm)
L.: 27 3/8 in.
MediumRaffia, cut pile with natural dyes
Object number: 2001.299
Object number: 2001.301
Object number: 68.76
Object number: 92.23
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