Twee fauteuils 1885 - 1895

Editor: Here we have "Twee fauteuils," or "Two Armchairs," from between 1885 and 1895 by Léon Laroche. It’s a print of a pencil and engraving drawing. What strikes me is the clear intention for these chairs to evoke Louis XIV, almost like cultural artifacts in themselves. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I see how Laroche uses these chairs as vessels of memory, deliberately summoning the grandeur of Louis XIV's era. Note the specific ornamental details. Can you identify repeated motifs? Editor: I see flowers and scrolled foliage, and what looks like shell details, kind of like the beginnings of rococo. Curator: Exactly. Those symbols were not merely decorative. The flowers suggest courtly refinement, the shells hint at the burgeoning scientific curiosity of the time, both functioning as cultural shorthand. And consider, why depict *two* chairs? What does pairing add? Editor: Hmmm, well they look different, like maybe intended for different spaces. Or possibly different occupants? One’s paler, one’s warmer… Curator: Good observation! It’s not simply about showcasing design. Laroche juxtaposes potential patrons, perhaps even hinting at different personalities within the court, a dialogue rendered visible through the symbolism embedded within the chairs. The chairs, therefore, become characters themselves. Editor: I never thought about furniture having characters! This has made me rethink how objects can carry narratives. Curator: And that, in essence, is the magic of symbolic imagery – transforming the mundane into meaningful conduits of culture.