Honor from the series "The Honors" 1510 - 1532

Bernard van Orley created this tapestry, titled "Honor," in the 16th century; a period defined by distinct social hierarchies and the burgeoning concept of nation-states. Here, honor is not an abstract virtue but a very public demonstration of power and status. Woven into the fabric is a rigid social structure, one where class and gender dictate placement and privilege. Note the men in armor, the regal figures elevated on thrones, and the women, often positioned as attendants or symbols of nobility. While tapestries like these were designed to project an image of authority and divine right, we might also read them as complex documents that reveal the anxieties and aspirations of a society grappling with change. They prompt us to consider who is included, who is excluded, and what narratives are being carefully constructed and maintained. This tapestry is both a historical artifact and a reflection on the timeless pursuit of recognition, prompting us to question how honor is defined, earned, and represented in our own lives.