Canapé 1885 - 1895

Editor: This watercolor print, titled "Canapé," by Léon Laroche, dates from around 1885 to 1895. It depicts a rather ornate sofa. What do you see in this piece, beyond just a pretty piece of decorative art? Curator: It’s easy to dismiss this as simply decorative, but consider its historical context. This was produced during the height of the Belle Époque, a period of dramatic social and political change, and that's really embodied by the decorative excess and the subject matter. This illustration served as a prototype and reflects shifting power dynamics related to industrialisation, rising middle classes and a wider consumer base. Who had access to comfort and luxury at the time and what did this mean for marginalized communities? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. I hadn't considered that a simple sofa design could be tied to social commentary. So, you're saying it's not just about aesthetics, but about the socio-political environment in which it was created and whom this design sought to serve? Curator: Precisely. And even more, whom it implicitly excluded through its very design. Think about labor: Who produced these opulent furnishings and under what conditions? What does this design, and its accessibility, signal about social strata during that time? This drawing is not only beautiful, it prompts crucial questions about labor, access and power. Editor: This definitely sheds new light on how to view what I thought was just a nice piece of furniture. Thanks, that perspective is something I'll consider more often when looking at art. Curator: Absolutely. This "Canapé" makes me rethink comfort and beauty through a lens of power.