Armchair 1857 - 1860

Editor: So this is "Armchair," created by Léon Marcotte between 1857 and 1860. It's currently housed here at the Met. The contrast between the bright floral fabric and the dark wood frame is striking. What story do you think this piece tells? Curator: It invites us to consider the relationship between luxury and power during the Second Empire in France. Think about who would have commissioned such a piece. This isn't merely a functional object; it’s a declaration. Consider how the ornate details might represent an attempt to legitimize a regime through association with opulence and a certain vision of 'good taste', while silencing the voices of the working class who created it. Do you see the tension there? Editor: I do! The craftsmanship is incredible, but you're right, it feels...exclusionary almost? Curator: Exactly! The very materials – the expensive textile, the meticulously carved wood – speak to privilege. But beyond that, what cultural values were being embedded into furniture like this? This era idealized domesticity and rigidly defined gender roles. So, who sat in this chair and what was expected of them? Editor: Probably not someone like me! I imagine a wealthy woman, concerned with appearances and social standing, maybe waiting for a suitor. Curator: Precisely. And by understanding the chair’s original context, we start to question these power structures, and also how that chair’s narrative plays into today's social values. Editor: That definitely gives me a lot to think about. It’s more than just a pretty chair. Curator: Absolutely. It's about understanding the complex layers of history, labor, and social expectation embedded within its design.