Embroidering the Landscape: Women, Art and the Environment in British North America, 1740-1770

Embroidering the Landscape explores how women in eighteenth-century America depicted the landscape in their needlework, addressing the tumultuous environmental history of the period, differing from men's depictions, and revealing their lives and relationships to nature.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 02 October 2023
Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd

In her groundbreaking work, Embroidering the Landscape, Andrea Pappas offers a fresh and multi-faceted perspective on eighteenth-century American culture. Through a meticulous exploration of the connections between women's histories, relationships to the natural environment, material culture, and art, Pappas presents a novel interpretation of this era. This book delves into the intriguing question of how and why women portrayed the landscape in their needlework, unraveling the ways in which their embroidered landscapes addressed the turbulent environmental history of the period. It also examines the distinct ways in which women's depictions of nature differ from those created by men and sheds light on the choices of motifs they employed, offering valuable insights into their lives and their relationships to nature.

Embroidering the Landscape situates these pastoral and georgic needleworks, which flourished between c. 1740 and 1775, at the crossroads of environmental and social histories. Pappas employs ecocritical and social lenses to interpret these works, drawing out connections between women's depicted landscapes and the broader environmental and cultural transformations of the time. During this period, nature itself became a dynamic and contentious realm, witnessing significant changes in agriculture, husbandry, gardening, and the emerging discourses of botany and natural history. Pappas' insightful investigation reveals the profound ways in which women's needlework intersected with these broader shifts, challenging our understanding of the relationship between culture and the environment during this era.

One of the key insights offered by Pappas is the recognition of the unrecognized extent of women's engagement with nature and natural science. Her work challenges the traditional narratives that have often marginalized women's contributions to these fields, highlighting their active participation and knowledge acquisition. By examining the motifs and symbols employed in women's needlework, Pappas uncovers the rich tapestry of botanical and ecological knowledge that women possessed and their deep connections to the natural world. This revelation expands our understanding of the role of women in shaping scientific and environmental discourse during the eighteenth century and sheds light on the broader societal implications of their involvement.

Moreover, Embroidering the Landscape offers valuable insights into the cultural significance of needlework in eighteenth-century America. Pappas explores the ways in which women's needlework served as a means of self-expression, creativity, and social connection. Through their intricate designs and meticulous craftsmanship, women's needlework not only adorned their homes and clothing but also communicated their values, beliefs, and aspirations. The landscapes depicted in these works became a means of expressing a sense of place, heritage, and connection to the natural world, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of eighteenth-century American culture.

In conclusion, Embroidering the Landscape is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh and multi-dimensional perspective on eighteenth-century American culture. Through a meticulous exploration of the connections between women's histories, relationships to the natural environment, material culture, and art, Pappas presents a novel interpretation of this era. By challenging traditional narratives and highlighting the unrecognized extent of women's engagement with nature and natural science, this book expands our understanding of the relationship between culture and the environment in this period and raises important questions about the role of women in shaping scientific and environmental discourse. Pappas' work is a valuable contribution to the field of eighteenth-century studies and will inspire scholars and researchers for years to come.

Weight: 934g
Dimension: 197 x 259 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781848226241