Rustbank 1745 - 1775

This print shows a "banquette de croisèe", or a window seat, made of carved wood and striped textile. Though the artist is unknown, the medium gives us some insight into its purposes. A print such as this one would have been a working document, likely used by furniture makers to present designs to wealthy clients. The emphasis isn't so much on artistic expression, but rather on the details of construction. Note the fine lines describing the carving, the precise articulation of the legs, and the way the textile is rendered to suggest its texture. This print speaks to the highly developed design culture of its time. Aristocratic taste demanded novelty and refinement, and a whole economy of skilled artisans arose to meet that demand, making objects that demonstrated not only utility, but also the owner's social status. It reminds us that even seemingly simple items, such as a window seat, are the product of complex social relationships.