"L'Art d'Aimer" 1787 - 1797

"L'Art d'Aimer", or "The Art of Love," is a monochrome cotton textile, crafted by J.P. Meillier et Cie. These types of textiles emerged in the 18th century in France, and quickly became a marker of class. Scenes of courtship and leisure, typical of Rococo art, repeat across the fabric. Here, love is depicted as a game of pursuit and dalliance; however, representations of love and leisure during this time often masked the socio-economic realities of inequality and oppression. The textile invites us to reflect on the stories we tell about love and desire, and who has the privilege to engage in these pursuits. The seemingly innocent scenes, full of romantic gestures, evoke a sense of nostalgia, but also invite us to question the power dynamics inherent in such representations. Does the fabric celebrate love, or does it also remind us of the artifice and exclusion that often accompany it?