Tapestry (Portrait of Madame Bissière) 

Roger Bissière painted this portrait of Madame Bissière, likely in France, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. The flattened planes and simplified forms relate this image to wider European trends in modern painting, while the title, "Tapestry," implies an interest in the decorative arts and practices associated with craft. We might ask what it meant for a modern artist to turn toward tapestry during this period? Was this part of a wider search for alternative aesthetic values beyond the established institutions of fine art? The domestic setting and the presence of the artist’s wife suggest an intimacy and attention to the everyday, which perhaps reflects a desire to find beauty and meaning in the ordinary. To gain a deeper understanding, one might research the revival of interest in crafts during this period, looking into the history of the Arts and Crafts movement, and exploring the institutional contexts, such as art schools and workshops, that supported such practices. Through this approach, art becomes a window into cultural values.