Venster met gordijnen c. 1895 - 1910

This decorative print on paper, "Venster met gordijnen", depicts a window with curtains. I love imagining the artist, Léon Laroche, in their studio, carefully rendering each decorative flourish. Look at the pastel palette, the soft greens and pinks, how they suggest a light airy interior. I picture Laroche thinking about the interplay between interior and exterior spaces, playing with the tension between the private and public. The floral motifs climbing up the sides of the frame, that’s Art Nouveau in full bloom. I bet Laroche was inspired by the botanical studies that were trending at the time. It's like the garden is trying to get inside! There's a definite conversation happening here between design and nature. Artists are always looking at what came before, remixing and reimagining, each generation building upon the last. This print feels like a little window into the artistic dialogues of its time.