Art in Context: Materials in Miniature at Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art in New Haven will present Art in Context: Materials in Miniature on Tuesday, June 24, at 12:30 pm. This talk focuses on William Hay’s 1798 watercolor Seamstresses, St. Kitts, Caribbean, a delicate and intimate portrayal of two women engaged in textile work.

The painting features finely detailed depictions of various textiles and accessories—including muslin, chintz cloth, madras handkerchiefs, coral necklaces, and gold earrings—that offer a glimpse into the global material culture of the late eighteenth-century Caribbean. The discussion will explore how these items reflect the creative practices and self-fashioning of women of color during this period, highlighting their role in shaping global consumption and fashion.

The Yale Center for British Art is located at 1080 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Admission is free. For more information, visit britishart.yale.edu.