Pompeiian Design for Paneling 1850 - 1900

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this Pompeiian Design for Paneling with graphite and watercolor on paper. The design embraces a material simplicity that belies its aspirations to classical grandeur. The use of graphite and watercolor, humble mediums, contrasts sharply with the luxurious interiors it seeks to emulate. The flat application of color and precise graphite lines mimic the smooth surfaces and clean contours characteristic of ancient Roman frescoes, yet the paper support roots it firmly in the realm of the draft, a preliminary sketch rather than a finished artwork. It’s interesting to consider the labor that might go into producing paneling like this on a larger scale. The design reduces the artistry of the original frescoes to a repeatable pattern, ready for industrial reproduction. This work invites us to reflect on how materials and processes shape our perception and understanding of both art and design, and to question the traditional distinctions between high art and craft.