Acanthuskapiteel, een stoel en een stoel- of tafelpoot 1877 - 1880

Jac van Looij made this pencil drawing, "Acanthuskapiteel, een stoel en een stoel- of tafelpoot," exploring furniture design, though the date remains unknown. Van Looij was a Dutch artist, and the drawing suggests an interest in both Renaissance and Lombardy styles, as indicated by the inscriptions on the sketch. These styles, associated with wealth and status, feature classical motifs such as the acanthus leaf. Van Looij may have been interested in their revival within the context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The drawing seems to focus on design elements, perhaps intended for mass production. This raises questions about the role of the artist in a rapidly industrializing world. Was Van Looij looking to elevate everyday objects, or simply exploring historical styles? Art historians might consult design journals, museum collections of furniture, and Van Looij’s other works to better understand this drawing's place in his career and the broader design landscape of the time.