Design for the Decoration of the Ceiling in the Hôtel de Pless, Berlin, or the Chateau de Cangé in the Loire 1850 - 1900

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this design for a ceiling in either Berlin or the Loire. The drawing offers an insight into the world of interior design and the tastes of the wealthy in the late 19th or early 20th century. The design is defined by geometric patterns and stylized arabesques, a distinctly European interpretation of Middle Eastern designs which speaks to the orientalist fascination of the era. The rigid structure of the design and the high level of ornamentation would have signified wealth, taste, and education. It's a design that subtly reinforces existing social hierarchies. Historical research into the archives of the named hotels, alongside genealogical study of the Pless family, might allow us to better understand the social context for which this design was made. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.