Boekenkast 1895 - 1935

This delicately rendered "Boekenkast," or bookcase, was made by Léon Laroche using what appears to be watercolor. Look at how the translucent washes of colour create a dreamy, ethereal quality, like a half-remembered space. The pale wood grain, rendered in fine lines, feels as tactile as real wood, yet the composition is all about suggestion rather than stark realism. See how the verticality of the design mimics the growth of a tree, mirroring the organic forms of the Art Nouveau movement. Atop the cabinet, a classical bust sits beside a telescope, contrasting humanism with scientific discovery. Notice the books themselves, just hinted at with soft strokes of colour—an inventory of imaginary knowledge. This piece, with its gentle light and thoughtful composition, echoes the sentiment of designers like William Morris, blending practicality with a romantic vision of nature and intellect. It’s a beautiful reminder that art resides even in the everyday.