Two Carved-Wood Armchairs 1800 - 1900

This sheet shows two carved-wood armchairs, rendered with pen and ink, and watercolor. The chair to the left dominates with its plush, reddish-brown upholstery and ornate carving, creating an immediate impression of luxury and comfort. However, it is the chair to the right that truly challenges our perception of space and form. Stripped of its upholstery, this chair exposes the skeletal structure of the design, revealing the framework upon which comfort is constructed. The contrast between the two chairs is stark and deliberate. One is complete and inviting, while the other is incomplete and analytical. The artist uses this pairing to explore ideas of representation and reality. The deconstructed chair serves as a kind of semiotic revelation, inviting us to contemplate the underlying structures that give rise to our perceptions of beauty, value, and function.