Fire Screen 1760 - 1785

Editor: Here we have an exquisite "Fire Screen," dating from around 1760 to 1785. It’s an anonymous mixed-media piece from the Art Institute of Chicago, and it strikes me as a powerful artifact of domestic life in the Baroque or Rococo era. What stories does this object tell, do you think? Curator: The very presence of such an object speaks volumes about class and gender. Consider who would need protection from the fire's harshness and who would have the leisure to engage in needlework or the means to acquire such a decorative, rather than strictly utilitarian, piece. It reflects the specific role of women in that period, occupying this domestic sphere and perhaps finding a means of expression through decorative arts. Does the floral design say anything to you? Editor: Well, it seems decorative… perhaps suggesting the pursuit of beauty or some appreciation for the natural world. Is there anything more specific you glean? Curator: It goes deeper. Floral imagery, then as now, carries coded messages. Think about the 'language of flowers' and its role in a society where women’s voices were often curtailed. Were these blooms intended as statements, subtle expressions of personal identity or political allegiance? It also makes me consider the labour involved. Who designed it, who embroidered it, and under what conditions? These histories are usually silenced, but it is essential to keep these things in mind. Editor: That's fascinating, it's amazing how such an apparently simple object can be tied to so many societal elements. Curator: Precisely. This "Fire Screen" acts as a lens through which we can view issues of gender, class, labour and even hidden expressions within 18th-century society. It also serves as an opening into considering silenced voices. Editor: I've definitely learned to see it in a different light.