Pissenlit 2 1896

Maurice Pillard Verneuil's ‘Pissenlit 2’ is a study in the design and application of surface pattern. Verneuil worked across many media including ceramics, textiles, and wallpaper, all of which are evoked here. Look closely and you will see how the artist deploys a range of techniques, from wood carving to stenciling. Each design offers a different approach to the dandelion as a motif, reflecting the plant’s botanical characteristics. The work is typical of the Art Nouveau period, when there was a huge appetite for new designs, driven by expanding manufacturing and a burgeoning middle class. It is tempting to think of Verneuil as an artist creating designs for industry, but actually his approach was a bit more nuanced. During his career he taught at l’École d’Arts Appliqués, emphasizing handcraft and resisting the full embrace of industrial production. He saw his work as bridging art and craft, not as a simple submission to mass manufacture. The labor that went into creating such meticulous designs underscores the value and complexity of the decorative arts.