Twee stoelen 1895 - 1935

Editor: Here we have "Twee stoelen" or "Two Chairs" by Léon Laroche, likely created sometime between 1895 and 1935, using watercolor and drawing techniques. What strikes me is how delicate they appear, almost as if they are drawn from a dream. The chairs seem to embody a certain antiquated elegance. What do you see in this piece? Curator: That's a beautiful way to put it – "drawn from a dream." They do have a whimsical quality. I see echoes of Neoclassicism, a longing for simpler times, perhaps. Notice how Laroche uses watercolor to create this airy lightness. It's as if these chairs are more ideas of chairs, representations of ultimate comfort, rather than functional objects. Do you get that sense too, a sort of... idealization? Editor: Yes, absolutely. It's interesting that you mention Neoclassicism because, at first glance, they seemed very ornamental to me. Almost too ornate to fit into that category. Curator: That’s the tension, isn't it? Laroche is playing with our expectations. He’s embracing the historical reference while letting his own artistic spirit dance around it. Look closely at the fine lines, the detailed floral work. Each brushstroke seems to celebrate the craft, even elevate the mundane to art. It reminds me a bit of when I painted chairs in college to combat writer’s block; the sheer observation required became a meditation of sorts. Have you ever found that too? Editor: That sounds cathartic. So, beyond their apparent function, these chairs seem to invite us into a world where history, artistry, and maybe a touch of fantasy intersect. Thank you. Curator: And for me, they serve as a gentle nudge to find the extraordinary within the everyday, the elegance within simplicity, all seen anew. It was very inspiring to reflect together!