Leunstoel met borduur- en houtsnijwerk before 1874

Editor: This is a photographic print of "Leunstoel met borduur- en houtsnijwerk," a chair with embroidery and carved wood, dating from before 1874. What immediately strikes me is the intricacy of its design, even captured in this somewhat faded photograph. It seems incredibly ornate. What formal qualities do you see as particularly important? Curator: Indeed. Looking at it through a Formalist lens, one must consider how the elements come together. The pronounced verticality of the backrest is immediately balanced by the elaborate, horizontally oriented carving at the base. The contrast between the smooth surfaces and the textured embroidery is also essential to its visual impact. Editor: So the tension between the vertical and horizontal creates the visual appeal? Curator: Precisely. And observe how the floral motif is presented: it’s centralized, almost like a vase arrangement contained within the back of the chair itself. Notice how the composition draws your eye upward, yet is grounded by the more robust and weighty carved details below. How might you consider the photograph itself, separate from the image? Editor: Well, as a photograph, it flattens the dimensionality and reduces the colour palette to shades of gray. That adds a layer of abstraction, focusing the attention more intensely on the contrasting forms and textures. Curator: An excellent point. The tonal range accentuates the textural differences while reducing other possible visual distractions, guiding our observation to appreciate form, composition, and the relationships between components in a highly effective manner. Editor: I've definitely learned to appreciate the subtle ways formal choices affect how we perceive an object. The removal of color lets us focus on shape. Curator: Precisely. A potent reminder of how technique can change how one views form, materiality and structure.