Parasol with machine-made lace c. 1910

This parasol with machine-made lace was made by M. Cazal, its date unknown. It's cream colored and layered, a kind of sculptural object meant to keep the sun off someone's skin. The lace itself has such detail, such delicacy. You can almost feel the texture, the slight give of the fabric. Think about how it filters the light, making everything softer, dreamier. It's not just about blocking the sun; it's about changing how you see the world. The light catches on the frills and the different layers, creating shadows and highlights. The handle is simple, functional, a grounding force in all that ethereal prettiness. Looking at it, I think of Fragonard or Boucher and the Rococo, that kind of ornamentation that both delights and maybe distracts. It invites daydreaming and speculation. Isn’t that what art should do?