New Books Network
Andrea Pappas, "Embroidering the Landscape: Women, Art and the Environment in British North America, 1740-1770" (Lund Humphries, 2023)
May 4, 2025
Andrea Pappas, a Professor of art history at Santa Clara University, explores the intricate relationship between women, art, and the environment in 18th-century British North America. She reveals how women's embroidery served as both artistic expression and social commentary, reflecting their status and perspectives on nature. Pappas highlights distinct regional styles, the cultural journey of strawberries, and the vital role women played in agriculture and textiles, challenging perceptions of their contributions and engagement with the environment.
48:05
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Quick takeaways
- Dr. Andrea Pappas highlights how women's embroidered landscapes in 18th-century British North America uniquely reflected their social status and environmental awareness.
- The podcast delves into how the materials and motifs used in women's embroidery were deeply intertwined with economic practices and colonial policies.
Deep dives
The Origin of Women's Embroidery as Art
The creation of embroidered works in British North America during the 18th century was primarily undertaken by elite women from wealthy families. These women learned needlework from a young age, progressing from small samplers to large, complex pieces as part of their education, often at finishing schools. Here, they would produce large textiles, some exceeding four feet in width, serving as decorative art that showcased their skills and social standing. This art form allowed them to communicate their identity and environmental awareness through their needlework.
