Design for a Decorative Wall Panel 19th century

This Design for a Decorative Wall Panel was made by an anonymous artist, using watercolor on paper. This was a common technique for quickly conveying visual information, like the interior design scheme you see represented here. Watercolors are thin and translucent, allowing the artist to build up layers of color and create subtle gradations. Note the pinks and greens, overlaid with gilded ornament. The combination gives a sense of opulence, but also delicacy, which is emphasized by the small scale. The design is likely for a wealthy client, someone who would have had the means to commission such elaborate work. It gives you a sense of the period's aesthetic values, but also of the social context in which such objects were produced. An abundance of labor would have been needed to execute this design at full scale, which must be factored into our appreciation of the image. It’s a reminder that all visual pleasure has a material basis.