In art and iconography, a motif ( (pronunciation) (help·info)) is an element of an image. A motif may be repeated in a pattern or design, often many times, or may just occur once in a work. Subsequently, one may also ask, what is motif in textile design? In the textile arts, a motif. (pronunciation) (help·info) (also called a block or square) is a smaller element in a much larger work.