Embroidery: The Language of Art

The definition of the word art has changed over time. From the late Middle Ages it referred to a skill acquired through knowledge and practice as well as the objects produced as a result of that skill, whatever the materials or techniques. In the 18th century a distinction began to be made between fine art, which included only painting, sculpture, and architecture, and applied or decorative art, defined as the design and decoration of more utilitarian objects, including embroidery. Today applied or decorative art is often called craft, another term whose meaning has changed over time.

This exhibition looks at how the creation of embroidered objects fits into the changing definitions of art, craft, and design throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. 

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.