Flora [II]

c. 1925–30

Flora [II], c. 1925–30. Josef Frank (Swedish, born Austria, 1885–1967), Haus & Garten (Austrian, est. 1925). Plain weave cotton, loom width, printed; overall: 50.7 x 127 cm (19 15/16 x 50 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Educational Purchase Fund 1937.185 Also affectionately called Pepi’s Flora after Josef Frank’s childhood nickname “Pepi,” this design depicts imaginary wildflowers concocted by Frank. The whimsically placed yet tightly packed flowers are meant to evoke flowers in the background as well as the borders of French tapestries. Frank enjoyed sketching wildflowers; he called this pattern “Pepi” after his childhood nickname.