Museum Exhibition
Fabricating Fashion
Art Institute of Chicago
August 20, 2022 – January 2, 2023
Highlighting the scope of the Art Institute's textiles collection, this exhibition celebrates the artistry and rich legacy of an extraordinary range of fabrics for clothing from around the world.
Exhibition artworks
Representative work
James Gillray
Ladies Dress, As it Soon Will Be
published June 20, 1796
Etching in black ink and watercolor on cream wove paper
Image: 30.5 × 21.5 cm (12 1/16 × 8 1/2 in.); Plate/sheet: 31.3 × 23.3 cm (12 3/8 × 9 3/16 in.)
View artwork at the museumFeatured works
Anna Maria Garthwaite
Skirt Panel for a Woman's Sack Gown
Design March 1, 1749
Silk, plain weave foundation with supplementary patterning warps and supplementary brocading wefts
114.7 × 51 cm (45 1/8 × 20 1/8 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 66.1 cm (26 in.)
View at museum
Nicholas Guerin et Cie
Mise-en-Carte (Point-Paper)
1760s
Opaque watercolor with traces of graphite over an etching in black ink on cream laid paper
Image/plate: 43.5 × 54.1 cm (17 3/16 × 21 5/16 in.); Sheet: 44.8 × 56.4 cm (17 11/16 × 22 1/4 in.)
View at museum
Germain Frères
Mise-en-Carte (Point-Paper)
1760s
Opaque watercolor over etching in black ink on cream laid paper
Image: 42.5 × 52.8 cm (16 3/4 × 20 13/16 in.); Plate: 44 × 53 cm (17 3/8 × 20 7/8 in.); Sheet: 45 × 55.7 cm (17 3/4 × 21 15/16 in.)
View at museum
France
Woman's Spencer jacket
c. 1800
Cotton, plain weave, hand-block printed; cotton lining
Overall width with sleeves extended: W.: 151.1 cm (59 1/2 in.); Overall: H.: 30.5 cm (12 in.); Sleeve: H.: 63.5 cm (25 in.); Center back: H.: 20.3 cm (8 in.)
View at museum
Oberkampf Manufactory
Printed Fabric
1780s
Linen and cotton plain weave; block printed
173.7 × 81.7 cm (68 3/8 × 32 1/8 in.); Repeat: 31.3 × 40.2 cm (12 3/8 × 15 7/8 in.)
View at museum
Made in Coromandel Coast, India, probably for the Indonesian market
Man's Informal Robe
Mid-18th century
Cotton, plain weave foundation; painted and resist-dyed
109.2 × 135.6 cm (43 1/4 × 53 1/4 in.)
View at museum38 documented works in this exhibition
View all 38 documented works