Venster met gordijnen c. 1895 - 1910

Léon Laroche made this print of a window with curtains. Look at the way the colours are laid down, so soft and washy, like a watercolour, but with very precise, controlled lines. It’s almost diagrammatic, showing us a window and its drapery like a pattern or a plan. The fabric of the curtains has a sheen and a depth created by the blending of colours that almost seem to glow. The artist uses soft lines to show the folds and movement of the draped fabric. The tassels and trim are rendered with exquisite detail, they almost look like jewellery. It’s a celebration of the decorative, an appreciation of the tactile. The image reminds me of David Hockney’s set designs for opera. He's another artist interested in exploring space and depth through flat surfaces and bold color choices. This piece, like Hockney’s sets, shows how art can be about opening up new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.