The Bayeux Tapestry, or rather, embroidery, is 70 meters of unbleached linen embroidered with colored wool. This 230 foot embroidery consists of scenes which led up to the Norman invasion of England and the Battle at Hastings in 1066.
Society in the Middle Ages was definitely male dominated and woman in this era lived hard lives. There were many societal norms that women were expected to follow; which include, but not limited to, having children and getting married. However, this did not mean that they did not work. Most men and women in this time did the same jobs, the only difference being that men were paid more. This mostly included men and women who were not wealthy. Those women who were wealthy were usually given less strenuous work, and many were taught embroidery. If you became a nun you worked on illuminated religious manuscripts for the church.
This would suggest that the “tapestry” was then created by females because embroidery was an accepted art form for women at the time. It is very much possible that the tapestry was made by men, considering there are only about three women depicted in the entire artwork; and the art work was made “probably by women, as contemporary documents include no mention of needleworkers” (Chadwick 48). The tendency in art history to refer to male work as ‘art’ and female work as ‘craft’ is the result of a long history of unequal treatment and male dominated societies. Female work is just as much ‘art’ as any male artwork. The Bayeux Tapestry is very much so art, rather than craft. As well as it being a visual representation of historical events that transpired during this time, there are stories in this tapestry. The history that is shown throughout this tapestry is not just some written document, but rather hundreds of images that convey emotion, and movement, and pain, and violence. This tapestry is more than just embroidered pictures, it’s art.
Works Cited
Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, And Society. 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10110: Thames and Hudson, 2007.
Alchin, L.K.. Lords and Ladies. September 20, 2012. February 3, 2014. <http://www.lordsandladies.org/bayeux-tapestry.htm>
Alchin, L.K.. Lords and Ladies. September 20, 2012. February 3, 2014. <http://www.lordsandladies.org/middle-ages-women-artists.htm>
