Kast met leeuwenkop en schelpmotief 1772 - 1779

Editor: This is Philibert Boutrois’ "Cupboard with Lion Head and Shell Motif," made between 1772 and 1779. It's a drawing or print, incredibly precise with geometric forms. It feels so… reserved, almost severe, for decorative art. What do you make of it? Curator: Reserved, yes, but deliciously so! It whispers of a time obsessed with order, clarity. Think of it: Neoclassicism rising! The lion head, the shell – ancient Roman motifs, regurgitated with…well, less orgiastic abandon, wouldn't you agree? I mean, look at the perfect symmetry. Do you see any asymmetry? This wasn't just design, it was a statement. A revolt against the flamboyant curves of the Rococo, with an aspiration toward moral rectitude. You follow? Editor: Moral rectitude in a cupboard design? That seems a stretch! Curator: Oh darling, everything's symbolic! These objects weren't just furniture, they were…visual manifestos. Every straight line declared, "We are reasonable! We are balanced!" Plus, someone took considerable pains engraving this design on paper for dissemination - not exactly mass-produced, more like, inspirational catalogue. Almost like they're selling orderliness to anyone who’ll buy. Can you think of it in a modern parallel? Editor: Hmmm, IKEA instructions selling the *dream* of organization? Curator: (laughing) Precisely! See? You get it. Although the artistry displayed here seems somewhat out of place by modern comparisons. This design offers an accessible taste of affluence during the artist’s time. It's also important to be considerate of the fact that there was some social and economic inequality during this period. I wonder if the lower and working-class people ever pondered over this object when printed. Editor: Interesting! I guess I see more in a cupboard than I did five minutes ago. Curator: Aha! That's the joy of art. Now I can consider societal perceptions.