Escargots, bordure. Libellule et roseaux, papier peint. Mouettes, bordure. 1897

This is Maurice Pillard Verneuil’s wallpaper design made in France during the Art Nouveau period. The designs are organized into three horizontal registers and are suggestive of the natural world. The late 19th century was a time of great social change, when mass production was increasing. Verneuil and other artists responded by emphasizing handcraftsmanship and natural forms in art. The motifs of snails, dragonflies, reeds and seagulls might evoke feelings of tranquility. But it also shows the tension between the idealized, natural world and the rapidly industrializing world. The choice of these ordinary creatures asks us to reconsider our relationship with the environment. We are encouraged to see beauty in the everyday. Verneuil draws our attention to the often-overlooked elements of nature and asks us to reflect on our place within it. The wallpaper presents an alternative vision of harmony and balance in a world of increasing discord.