Tablecloth

This intricately woven "Tablecloth" by Otto Mäkilä, dated circa 1908, offers a fascinating glimpse into the artist's early career, which is more commonly associated with Expressionist prints and drawings. While Mäkilä is known for his stark and often somber depictions of human figures and wartime scenes, such as "Murder" and "Dead Soldier" from his 'Death and Resurrection' series (1922), this piece demonstrates a different facet of his artistic output. The attribution of this textile to Mäkilä, an artist primarily known for graphic works like "The Madam" (1925) and "Pimp and Whore" (1921), suggests a broader, perhaps less documented, engagement with various artistic mediums or an early period of exploration before his mature style solidified. The artwork's creation year of 1908 is notably early in his life, as he would have been only four years old, making the attribution as an artwork by Mäkilä highly unusual and perhaps indicating a different context for its creation or classification within the museum's collection. It raises questions about the scope of an artist's practice and the unexpected turns an artistic journey can take, or potential re-attributions over time.