Eetkamer met rode stoelen c. 1925

This is Eetkamer met rode stoelen, or Dining Room with Red Chairs, by Monogrammist HK, made in the Netherlands in the 20th century, using what looks like watercolor or gouache on paper. There’s a real sense of coziness in the color palette. It's muted and gentle, with these pops of red that feel almost too sweet, like candy. The artist isn't trying to trick us with perspective, instead, they create a flatness that feels very contemporary, even though it's from the 20th century. Look at the walls, how the decoration becomes this all-over pattern that presses against you. The medium itself—water-based paints—allows for a layering of color, a real sense of depth in what could otherwise be a very rigid composition. The red chairs scattered throughout pull your eye around the piece. This reminds me a little of Vuillard, the way he used domestic interiors to express a personal and intimate experience. This piece invites us to think about the way we live with art, how it mirrors and shapes our perceptions.