Fauteuil en stoel 1895 - 1935

Here we see two chair designs by Léon Laroche, printed on paper. There's a delicate balance here, in terms of color and mark making. The hues are muted, almost apologetic, yet the chairs themselves are quite ornate. Look closely, and you see the artist's hand—the subtle variations in the lilac, the precision in the floral patterns, the texture of the fringe. Laroche wasn’t just documenting; he was building a world, one chair at a time. That tassel, just there on the right, is practically begging to be touched. It's like he’s saying, "Yes, this is a design, but it’s also a thing, a real object with weight and presence." This reminds me a little of David Hockney's set design, where the objects are both props and characters, simultaneously real and theatrical. Art's not about answers; it's about opening up the conversation.