The first World’s Fair to showcase women’s work through the creation of a dedicated pavilion was held in Chicago from 1 May to 30 October 1893. The French section in charge of its organisation wanted to present the Bayeux Tapestry, which was considered at the time to have been made by Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror. This initiative was responsible for the first large-scale presentation of the work to the American public, thanks to its exceptional life-size photographic reproduction.