Canapé 1895 - 1935

This is Léon Laroche’s ‘Canapé, Louis XV’. Observe the floral motifs on the cushions and the ornate carvings adorning the frame. These are not mere decorations; they are echoes of a deeper yearning for beauty and order. Consider how flowers, symbols of ephemerality and renewal, have been used across cultures. From ancient Egyptian tombs to Renaissance paintings, they speak of life's transient nature and the promise of rebirth. Here, they are carefully arranged, tamed, and brought indoors, reflecting a human desire to control and domesticate nature. It evokes a sense of longing, a collective memory of simpler, more natural existence. The Rococo style with its elaborate curves and delicate ornamentation reflects a yearning for escape and refinement. It can be seen in earlier Byzantine art and resurfaces later in Art Nouveau. It is a cyclical return to the subconscious drives.