Detail of a miniature of Christine de Pizan presenting her manuscript to Queen Isabeau of Bavaria

Christine de Pizan's The Book of the Queen demonstrates how women have historically used design and written work to provide social commentary on gender equality. As one of the first professional female authors, de Pizan challenged prevailing gender norms, using ornate manuscript design to enhance her arguments about women's intellectual capabilities and social roles. Her illuminated texts, created in collaboration with skilled artisans, elevated her ideas to a wider audience, blending artistic design with feminist discourse. The manuscript form of her work shaped cultures of literacy by promoting the education of women and new ideas on gender, influencing broader cultural shifts in the perception of women’s roles in society.