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The Arts Intel Report

Chintz: Cotton in Bloom

May 18 – Sept 12, 2021
83 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF, United Kingdom

It was originally a costly cloth made in Golconda, a 16th-century fortress city in India, but by the 18th century it was sought after throughout Europe. Chintz! Involving a complex technique that decorated cotton with vivid colors and bold patterns, this cherished import appeared in everything from wall hangings to elaborate sun hats. Organized by the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, “Cotton in Bloom” brings together 150 examples of these precious textiles, carefully preserved through the centuries. United by bright, floral patterns, the works in this collection focus on the making of chintz, and the complicated story that accompanied its migration. —Sabina Vitale

Palempore Cotton, India, 1700–1725. Fries Museum Leeuwarden. Photo: Studio Noorderblik.