Hoffmann believed in the interdependence of all art forms, and recognized textiles as an important element in the creation a total work of art. This tablecloth’s reversible, double-faced weave provides a firm surface that accentuates the geometric form of the tea table beneath it. Its square format and border of contrasting stripes play off a dense pattern of tautly coiled spirals and stylized leaves—motifs that also appear in book cover designs, paintings, and interior decoration produced by the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops), which Hoffmann cofounded. From 1910 to 1932 the Werkstätte made thousands of fabric designs for tablecloths, drapes, curtains, wall coverings, and upholstery, as well as for fashion designers.
Gallery label from October 21, 2019–Spring 2020
