Caption: Depiction of Jean de France, Duke of Berry hosting a New Year's feast
Maker Credits: Herman de Limbourg, Paul de Limbourg, Jean de Limbourg
Date: 1413-1416
Location of Production: France
Examining The Questions:
- How do manuscript books shape cultures of visual/verbal literacy?
- How do design choices influence societal perceptions of socioeconomic classes?
Examination:
The January page from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (a Book of Hours, which is a devotional religious text that guided people through prayer) shows how manuscript books used both images and text to communicate ideas. While Books of Hours often include written elements, the illustrations also helped people understand religion, daily life, and socioeconomic roles in a visual way.
In this image specifically, the Duke of Berry is hosting a large feast, surrounded by lavish decorations, expensive clothing, and large portions of food, all centering wealth as a prominent aspect of the image. This further demonstrates how images found in manuscripts shape literacy and audience perceptions of the cultures presented.
This also connects to how design influences our perceptions of socioeconomic class, as the image and the elements it includes show us how the upper-class lived at the time. The bright colors, large feast, and lavish clothing depict the upper class in a very luxurious light. The design does more than show the differences between social classes; it reinforces the idea that wealth and social status are often connected to beauty and power. This leads the viewer to subconsciously connect specific classes with what they "should" be like.
