Piece 1750 - 1799

This textile, made by Jean Pillement, presents a scene of leisure and contemplation rendered with incredible detail, and is suggestive of the labor and production of luxury goods in the 18th century. The patterns and texture indicate that it was woven using a loom, employing a brocading technique. The process involves weaving supplementary weft threads into the fabric to create decorative patterns, which would have been painstakingly produced by skilled artisans. The shimmering and intricate character of the textile reflect the high level of craftsmanship involved. The cultural significance of this piece stems from the taste for Chinoiserie that was fashionable in Europe at this time. Pillement never visited China, but he masterfully captured an idealised version of it. Works like this blurred the line between craft and fine art, as highly skilled work was lavished on purely decorative items. The textile invites us to consider the relationship between aesthetics, labor, and consumption, recognizing the value of skilled making within a global economic system.