Marking-Writing in red stitch
The series of work shown here follow the artist’s research on the conventional use of red in house linen. Stitched or woven, the red thread was use for marking and organising the domestic space traditionally associated with women.
Inspired by French traditional school samplers – done in red cross-stitch, Dupré explored, through a series of work on paper, the idea of writing with red stitching.
The artist was inspired by abecedaries made by young women, including those made by her mother and maternal grand-mother. Done in cross-stitch, with red cotton thread, the alphabet was used as practice and reference for marking one’s initials on household linen.
A liteau is the French word given to the narrow woven red strip found on traditional tea towel. The strips run lengthway along both edges of the kitchen linen.
1m05 H x 0m71 W. Photo © Françoise Dupré
Cross-stitch on four cotton rag paper, pins, cotton embroidery red thread.
1m05 H x 0m71 W. Photo © Françoise Dupré
Cross-stitch on A4 cotton rag paper, cotton embroidery red thread.
Photo © Françoise Dupré
0m21 H x 0m61W. Photo © Françoise Dupré
0m66 H x 0m62 W. Photo © Françoise Dupré
Improvisation Croix de-par-Dieu are a series of cross-stitched works where the artist has reconfigured the croix de-par-Dieu motifs often stitched on old samplers made in religious schools.
0m21 H x 0m61W. Photo © Françoise Dupré
Photo © Françoise Dupré Archive
Photo © Françoise Dupré
Françoise Dupré 