Design for a wall decoration with peacock, cranes, and sunflowers for the restaurant in Hotel Langham (Paris) 1896 - 1898

Emile Hurtré designed this watercolor and graphite drawing for a wall decoration in the Hotel Langham in Paris. The composition is strikingly symmetrical, establishing a formal, balanced viewing experience. Architectural forms contain motifs of peacocks, cranes, and sunflowers, rendered in soft blues, greens, and yellows. Hurtré's design reflects the Art Nouveau movement's interest in organic forms and its synthesis of art and nature. The stylized peacocks and sunflowers are more than decorative; they embody the movement's ethos, which viewed nature as a source of aesthetic inspiration and spiritual renewal. The use of symmetry and stylized natural forms is consistent with Art Nouveau's quest to find harmony between industrial production and artistic expression. The design serves as a reminder of the period's utopian visions, seeking to transform everyday life through beauty. Ultimately, the drawing’s power resides in its formal structure and harmonious composition.