Ontwerp voor een stoel 1831

Joachim-Pierre Blank created this design for a chair in 1837. It’s a study in neoclassicism, a style popular at the time among the elite, who sought to connect themselves with the perceived refinement of ancient Greece and Rome. However, there's more to this chair than just aesthetics. Consider who gets to sit, who is afforded the luxury of rest and contemplation? Comfort is, after all, a privilege. The design’s clean lines and symmetry speak to a desire for order and control, values often associated with those in power. Yet, the drawing itself is delicate, almost fragile, reminding us that even the most solid structures are built on human ideas and aspirations. This chair isn't merely a functional object; it's a symbol of status, taste, and the complex social dynamics of its time. What does this design evoke in you?