Design for Interior Wall Decoration 1700 - 1780

This is an anonymous design for interior wall decoration, made with pen and brown ink, and brush and brown wash over black chalk. The cultural milieu that gave rise to classically inspired designs were often sites of power and exclusion. Consider the grand halls and private chambers they adorned, spaces reserved for a select few. This drawing gives us insight into the aesthetic values of the elite, for whom classical motifs symbolized order, reason, and a connection to a glorious past. But what narratives are silenced by this idealized vision? Whose labor and stories are absent from these meticulously planned spaces? The opulence on display served to reinforce social hierarchies, reminding those within and without of their place in the world. As you gaze at this drawing, reflect on how spaces shape our experiences and perceptions. What does it mean to move through rooms designed to impress upon you a sense of grandeur, power, and perhaps, even intimidation?