Papierbehangsel met decor van honden die een hert aanvallen c. 1855 - 1856

This is a wallpaper panel made by Jules Desfossé, decorated with a scene of dogs attacking a deer. The design is printed in a single shade of green, using a technique known as 'papier dominoté'. These were the forerunners to modern wallpaper, involving a painstaking, repetitive printing process from woodblocks. Think about the labor involved in producing this elaborate design, with its complex layers of vegetation, and the drama of the hunt unfolding. Wallpaper like this was literally the backdrop to aristocratic life, an immersive environment designed to impress. The hunt was a favorite aristocratic pastime, but printed on paper, it becomes a commodity, consumed as a lifestyle statement. Notice how the texture of the paper itself adds a tactile dimension to the overall design. Considering its material and mode of production reveals the intricate relationship between art, craft, and commerce in creating these images.