The Audience of the Emperor from the series The Story of the Emperor of China 1680 - 1745

This scene of the Emperor of China holding court was woven in wool and silk, probably in France in the early 1700s. It is one of a series, all likely made at the Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. The scale alone suggests a huge investment of labor. These tapestries would have taken teams of weavers many months to complete. The tapestry medium lends itself to intricate detail, and that's certainly on display here. The threads blend chromatically to create a painterly effect. Woven textiles like this were prized as luxury goods in Europe, symbols of wealth and status. The subject matter is also telling; it speaks to the European fascination with the exotic cultures of the East, in an era of burgeoning trade. So, when you look at this piece, don’t just see a pretty picture. Think about the skilled labor involved in its creation, and the social and economic context that made such an elaborate object possible. It really underscores the importance of craft as a form of cultural exchange and a marker of social identity.