Canapé 1895 - 1935

Léon Laroche made this print of a 'Canapé, Moderne Style' in France as part of 'Le Garde-Meuble', a series showing furniture designs. The images were designed as inspiration, but also as a tool for standardising style across the French nation. Laroche would have been aware of both historical and contemporary styles of furniture. He selectively adopts, combines, and transforms them for his own purpose. The 'moderne style' of the title would have been self-consciously progressive. It is likely aimed at a middle-class market keen to adopt the latest trends, but it would have also appealed to furniture makers wishing to stay ahead of the curve. The print has a self-consciously pedagogical purpose and its formal design encourages certain ways of seeing and knowing. Researchers can consult publications like Le Garde-Meuble, design pattern books and trade journals, and museum collections. These help us understand not just individual artworks but also the broader social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which they were created.