Artwork
Patronen

Patronen is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Archaeology and Museum Baselland.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “Patronen” presents a cardboard container filled with a collection of loose sheets. The box, constructed from brown corrugated material, is outlined with a thin black border and bears a label reading “Jacquard Dessin: 23700‑23799.” Several papers protrude from the top, revealing a variety of hand‑drawn designs of differing dimensions.
Subject & Meaning
The individual sheets appear to be pattern drawings, likely intended for textile production or related crafts. Their assorted motifs and markings suggest a systematic documentation of designs, reflecting an interest in cataloguing visual information for practical or research purposes.
Technique & Style
Each drawing is rendered by hand, employing line work that varies in density and complexity across the pages. The informal arrangement of the papers within the box emphasizes the archival nature of the material rather than a polished presentation, aligning the piece with practices of visual note‑taking.
Context
The label referencing “Jacquard Dessin” connects the collection to the historic Jacquard loom, a device that used punched cards to control woven patterns. By grouping these sketches, the work evokes the legacy of ethnographic and technical recording that accompanied industrial textile design in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.



















