The Toilet of Venus 1765 - 1785

This is the "Toilet of Venus" woven in Aubusson in the late 17th or early 18th century. The immediate experience is one of ornate elegance and the symmetry in its arrangement of figures, flowers, and decorative elements. The composition is structured around a central oval, framing Venus attended by cherubs, against a backdrop of classical gardens. This framed scene is then adorned with garlands of flowers and ribbons, creating a tapestry that merges classical mythology with the decorative arts. The artist employs a semiotic system where flowers represent beauty and temporality, while the depiction of Venus evokes themes of love and sensuality. What's intriguing is how this tapestry challenges fixed meanings. It operates not just as a depiction of a mythological scene but also as a commentary on the cultural values of its time, reflecting the Baroque period's obsession with ornamentation. The tapestry questions the boundaries between art and craft, high and low culture, suggesting that meaning is constructed through visual elements. This formal quality operates beyond aesthetics, engaging with larger cultural and philosophical discourses.