Threads of Time: Tradition and Change in Indigenous American Textiles
Dulemola (Blouse Panel) with Nested Cats
Title
Dulemola (Blouse Panel) with Nested Cats
Description
Multiple cats can be seen in this ingenious dulemola composition — two smaller ones in profile nestled within the overall orange outline of a larger third one in the center. In another reading, the larger cat could be seen frontally with its tail “split” into two kittens. Many different, and even conflicting interpretations are possible, a basic characteristic of dulemolaguna in which lines and colors create complicated perceptual situations.
The thin lines cut throughout the background provide another shifting perceptual field. As in many blouse panels, the artist has inserted various pieces of colored cotton between the top cloth and the bottom one, but in this piece the colors do not necessarily exactly correspond to the openings. For example, in the top left, white and light blue coexist in the second column; moving left to right, pink and light yellow, then light yellow and blue. This further distracts the viewer’s attention via the subtle disjunction between the coherent lozenge shapes and the shifting color changes.
The thin lines cut throughout the background provide another shifting perceptual field. As in many blouse panels, the artist has inserted various pieces of colored cotton between the top cloth and the bottom one, but in this piece the colors do not necessarily exactly correspond to the openings. For example, in the top left, white and light blue coexist in the second column; moving left to right, pink and light yellow, then light yellow and blue. This further distracts the viewer’s attention via the subtle disjunction between the coherent lozenge shapes and the shifting color changes.
Geographic Area
Central America, Guna Yala (San Blas Islands/North Coast of Panamá)
Culture
Guna
Date
Late 20th century
Materials
Cotton
Credit Line
Anonymous gift
Accession Number
2003.40.210
Photo Credit
Photo by Bruce M. White, 2012
Technical Notes
Like many of the dulemola panels, this one with nested cats was creased along the edges from having been folded and/or hemmed. A cool-mist ultrasonic humidifier was used to introduce enough moisture to make the textile fibers more supple, enabling the folds to relax. The layers of fabric were then gently flattened by hand, covered with blotter paper to absorb excess moisture, and allowed to dry under weights.
For more conservation information, please see The Threads of Time Conservation Project.
For more conservation information, please see The Threads of Time Conservation Project.