Joseph Ruler over Egypt c. 1548 - 1555

This tapestry, Joseph Ruler over Egypt, was made anonymously at an unknown date. It depicts the biblical story of Joseph's rise to power in Egypt, but it also tells us something about the culture that produced it. In this woven image, visual codes are used to establish social hierarchy, which can inform us of its place of origin, time of creation, and commissioners. The tapestry uses luxurious materials to emphasize the wealth and power of the ruling class. The elaborate costumes, architectural settings, and idealized figures reflect the values and aesthetics of the time. Tapestries were expensive and time-consuming to produce, which meant that they were usually commissioned by wealthy patrons, such as royalty or aristocrats. To understand this tapestry better, we would need to do further research into the social and political context in which it was made, which can be found in institutional archives. Such research will help us understand what kind of values it represents. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.