Twee kasten 1885 - 1895

These two cabinets, or “Twee kasten,” were designed by Léon Laroche as part of a series titled “Le Garde-Meuble,” which translates to the furniture repository. The work makes use of traditional art materials, specifically printmaking, to represent an object that would have been manufactured through woodworking. The original furniture pieces would likely have been made with hand tools, each piece showing the trace of labor. This print, however, flattens the design, losing some of the nuanced details of the objects it depicts. These designs reflect the Empire style, which borrowed heavily from classical antiquity, referencing the glory of ancient Rome. Considering their function as dining room furniture, we can imagine the aristocratic lives of those who might have used such elaborate designs. Thinking through the materials and processes brings light to the social context of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.