Les pêcheurs (The Fishermen), Tapestry from Les Anciennes Indes (The Old Indies) Series c. 1692 - 1723

This tapestry, titled "The Fishermen", was created by the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins, using wool and silk. It is part of a series called "The Old Indies". The Gobelins manufactory was renowned for its production of luxury goods for the French court, and tapestries like this one were a major part of its output. Notice the incredible detail. This tapestry shows that weaving is not just a craft, but a means of creating complex pictorial narratives. But there is a problematic aspect to this, which you may have already picked up on. The scene shows a colonialist fantasy of the "Indies" inhabited by racialized figures, exotic flora, and fauna, all meticulously rendered using skilled labor. It is a potent reminder of the intersection between craft production, imperial power, and the construction of otherness. Ultimately, this tapestry invites us to consider the social and political context in which luxury goods are produced and consumed, challenging any neat separation between art and craft.