Pompeiian Design for Paneling 1850 - 1900

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise rendered this Pompeiian Design for Paneling with graphite, watercolor and gouache on paper, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Lachaise, a French-American artist, likely encountered the classical style during his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where there was a strong emphasis on classical forms and ideals. This drawing gives us an important insight into the Western fascination with ancient civilizations, which often came hand in hand with colonial ambitions. The rediscovery of Pompeii in the 18th century had a profound impact on European art and design. The clean lines and geometrical motifs of this piece, while aiming to replicate antiquity, are filtered through a European lens. The design evokes questions of cultural appropriation, while also inviting reflection on the West’s ongoing dialogue with its own history. Lachaise’s rendering encourages us to consider the complex interplay between admiration, interpretation, and ownership in the exchange of cultural ideas.