Doorgang met gordijnen c. 1885 - 1895

Curator: Let’s discuss this interesting piece, “Doorgang met gordijnen” or “Passage with Curtains”, a drawing and print by Léon Laroche, dating back to around 1885-1895. What's your initial take? Editor: My first impression is one of contained theatricality. The draped curtains feel like a stage proscenium, framing an intimate, almost dreamlike interior space. The symmetry appeals, but there's a melancholic quiet. Curator: Agreed. Structurally, the composition is all about layers. The artist uses the foreground furniture to create depth, while the wallpaper pattern adds a textured plane against the more open space beyond. The table's perspective, while slightly off, creates visual tension. Editor: It speaks to a longing for escape, perhaps even desire. Curtains in art are often symbolic; think of unveiling, secrets revealed, the transition between the conscious and unconscious. This feels like a liminal space, caught between worlds. The fact it's decorative art, designed to make a space feel a particular way, enhances that sensation. Curator: The limited color palette – primarily muted pinks, blues, and golds – works to unify the different elements. It prevents the pattern-on-pattern from becoming visually chaotic and establishes a sense of formal harmony. Note how the artist varies the line quality to define forms and textures. Editor: Indeed. I see echoes of Orientalism, but softened, domesticated. The symbolism is not overt, it's diffused through the furnishings, the delicate coloring – as though hinting at stories left untold, fantasies unfulfilled within the walls of a very stylish home. It invites the viewer to step through into a story that can't ever quite be told. Curator: A delicate and technically intriguing illustration. It encourages close inspection. Editor: Yes, it serves as a poignant reminder that every domestic space, even an imagined one, contains untold stories. A testament to our imagination!