Spotlight on textile art:  The Creation of the Universe

Following a recent period of conservation, one of Newnham's most colourful and textural pieces of artwork is on display in the College Library, with photographs of enlarged sections of the work exhibited in the Library corridor. The Creation of the Universe, a textile wall hanging, was commissioned by the Newnham Roll in honour of College Principal Jean Floud (Principal from 1972 to 1983) and was created by artist Patricia Jaffé between 1982 and 1995.

 

The Pudding Seminar of 6 March, focused on an exploration of the item and its inspiration, a gem in our collection, introduced by Laura Dennis, College Curator. The first speaker, Sasha Gardner, Early Career Librarian at Newnham, presented a biography of Patricia Jaffé (NC 1954) who created the textile. Jaffé (née Milne-Henderson) studied English at Newnham and as an undergraduate was heavily involved in costume and poster design, alongside her studies.

 

Following her time at Newnham she travelled to Smith College as a Fulbright Scholar, gaining valuable experience learning from and working with artist Leonard Baskin. On her return to Cambridge, she married art historian Michael Jaffé, and established a studio in the Old Labs at Newnham, where she worked as a Research Fellow. Her principal medium was wood engraving, and she collected a significant number of books on the subject, which she left to the College where they are held as a Special Collection. Jaffé also wrote the book Women Engravers. In 1982 the Newnham Roll commissioned Jaffé to create a piece of art in honour of the outgoing Principal Jean Floud, the piece took Jaffé 13 years to make. 

 

The Creation of the Universe was inspired by a book by Robert Fludd (1574 to 1637) a physician and occult natural philosopher. In his book Utriusque Cosmi Historia (History of the Two Worlds) he outlined his theories on the world and his text was accompanied by intricate images and diagrams, created by engraver, Theodore de Bry. Newnham Fellow Dr Emma Perkins, a historian specialising in the early modern history of science, introduced the book and how the illustrations were interpreted by Jaffé.

 

It is unclear why this book was chosen as the inspiration for this artwork. It may be as simple as the word play of the names Floud and Fludd. As an engraver herself, Jaffé will have taken a particular interest in de Bry's original drawings and we are lucky to have her design notes and titles that explain how she translated Fludd's concepts into this piece, for example the parts that relate to the four terrestrial elements of earth, air, fire and water. In some areas her interpretation seems at odds with the original drawings, though she may have worked from a different version of the book or perhaps allowed her creativity to take the originals in different directions. The corner designs of the piece are also closely linked to illustrations from Fludd's work.