Bed 1745 - 1775

This drawing depicts a “Lit de Repos,” or daybed, in the late 18th century. Note the garlands of flowers adorning the frame. These symbols of nature and beauty are not merely decorative; they invoke a pastoral ideal, a retreat to innocence and leisure. Consider how such motifs echo through time. Garlands appear in ancient Roman art, adorning altars and figures, signifying celebration and honor. Their revival here signals a conscious connection to classical ideals, yet with a distinctly Rococo sensibility. The bed itself, draped in striped fabric, is a stage for repose. Think of similar couches across history—from the divans of the Ottoman Empire to the chaise lounges favored by 19th-century psychoanalysts. This is a space for contemplation, dreams, and perhaps, a journey into the subconscious. The garlands enhance this space for dreaming, evoking powerful, deep-seated associations with rest, fertility, and the cyclical rhythms of life. The motif of the garland is not linear but cyclical, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across history.