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 1444 in. (150.5111.8 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 1444 in. (150.5111.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of John Young
Mediums
Mediums Description
cotton and rayon
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract — geometric
Object Number
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 (1036 items)

William H. Johnson, Young Pastry Cook, ca. 1928-1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.693
Young Pastry Cook
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
Portrait of a Man
Dateca. 1935-1938
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, For India and China, ca. 1944-1945, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.662
For India and China
Dateca. 1944-1945
oil on paperboard
On view