Art and education are inextricably intertwined. We see this in modern-day classrooms as children color and sculpt while learning their numbers, shapes, and colors. Art and learning have been an important pair throughout history – and at some points this has been especially true for girls. One example is the creation of embroidery samplers, and their important role in girls’ education.
The Detroit Institute of Arts has curated a beautiful collection of embroidery samplers in their exhibition Painted with Silk. The historic samplers on display were created between the mid-18th century and mid-19th century while many of the young artists attended girls’ schools on the east coast of the United States. There were also several contemporary samplers on display. The exhibition showcases the samplers while also providing fascinating context. Themes that are often featured in the samplers include home, family records and memorials, moral lessons, religious teachings, and academic skills such as the alphabet. Some of the labels included additional information about the artist, including her name and age. The samplers were made by girls ages 7 to 20, which shows that needlework instruction started quite young.
I had the honor of visiting this exhibition with my four-year-old daughter in December 2024. I want to share experience as led by my young daughter, as it really opened my eyes to a different way of thinking about this connection between art, history, and girlhood.
When we entered the gallery, my daughter was not impressed at first. The room was a bit dark, and the samplers hanging on the wall were pretty small and dull compared to some of the other big, colorful artworks we had just viewed in the museum. I briefly explained that these samplers were made by girls just a bit older than her, and that they carefully sewed different pictures and words to show their skills. We talked about how it was similar to learning how to write her name and how to draw different things. As we walked around she wanted to know the names and ages of each of the artists – with my daughter’s response of “another girl named Sarah?” “another Elizabeth?” “Wow, she was only 7!”
In the final gallery of the exhibition, we found some fabulous interactive features, which were perfect for my preschooler! A giant magnetic wall for designing our own sampler was a huge hit. We created a few different designs and talked about what stories were being told in our samplers. There were also embroidery materials that we were able to touch, for a fun sensory experience.
This visit to see Painted with Silk was more than just a museum trip—it was a meaningful experience that connected art, history, education, and girlhood in a tangible way. Seeing the samplers through my daughter’s eyes reminded me that education isn’t just about absorbing facts but also about hands-on exploration and personal connections. The exhibition beautifully illustrated how art has long been a tool for learning, storytelling, and self-expression—especially for young girls. As we left the gallery, I felt grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with my daughter and inspired to keep fostering her curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for the past.
-Hillary Rose
Education Advisor
Girl Museum Inc.
Ps. Embroidery, and especially samplers, have fascinated me for years. (I blame the Felicity American Girl doll books.) I wrote an entry about another historic sampler as part of our 52 Objects exhibition in 2017. I also picked up embroidery as a hobby last year and find it to be very relaxing and a fun way to give gifts. We would love to hear from you in the comments below if you have tried embroidery!