Ancient Writing

Anni Albers, Ancient Writing, 1936, cotton and rayon, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Young, 1984.150
Anni Albers, Ancient Writing, 1936, cotton and rayon, 59 1⁄4 x 44 in. (150.5 x 111.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Young, 1984.150

Artwork Details

Title
Ancient Writing
Artist
Date
1936
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
59 1⁄4 x 44 in. (150.5 x 111.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of John Young
Mediums
Mediums Description
cotton and rayon
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract — geometric
Object Number
1984.150
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.150

Artwork Description

Anni Albers immigrated to the U.S. to teach at the experimental Black Mountain College in 1933. She took a holistic approach to teaching, encouraging her students to consider weaving from first principles. She asked them to imagine finding themselves alone in nature, with nothing but the materials at hand to keep warm, build shelter, and collect food. Their first crude attempts to create blankets and basketry led to a deeper appreciation of the refined systems of modern weaving.

Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, 2019

Works by this artist (71 items)

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H. Lyman Saÿen, Décor Slav, ca. 1915, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Lyman Sayen to his nation, 1967.6.6
Décor Slav
Artist
Dateca. 1915
oil on canvas
On view
H. Lyman Saÿen, The Thundershower, ca. 1917-1918, tempera on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Lyman Sayen to his nation, 1967.6.19
The Thundershower
Artist
Dateca. 1917-1918
tempera on wood
On view
H. Lyman Saÿen, Nudes, 1915-1918, watercolor on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Lyman Sayen to his nation, 1967.6.12
Nudes
Artist
Date1915-1918
watercolor on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
H. Lyman Saÿen, Newman's House, 1915, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of H. Lyman Sayen to his nation, 1968.19.4
Newman’s House
Artist
Date1915
oil on canvas
Not on view

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Mary Vaux Walcott, Hedysarum (Hedysarum sulphurescens), 1917, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1970.355.185
Hedysarum (Hedysarum sulphurescens)
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Date1917
watercolor on paper
Not on view
Andrew Wyeth, Chimney Beams, 1950, watercolor on wove paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Henry Ward Ranger through the National Academy of Design, 2023.54
Chimney Beams
Artist
Date1950
watercolor on wove paper
Not on view
Robert Green, January Lark, 1986, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1995.19.3
January Lark
Artist
Date1986
watercolor on paper
Not on view