Venster met gordijnen c. 1885 - 1895

Léon Laroche created this print titled, “Venster met gordijnen”. Notice the immediate visual impact of the symmetrical arrangement. The curtains, rendered in deep reds and ornate gold trim, frame a window which is partly obscured by a delicate lace curtain. The composition is dominated by a play of textures. The heavy, draped curtains contrast with the transparency of the lace, creating a tension between concealment and visibility. Laroche is investigating how these materials can define space and perception, and the cultural codes which inform the artwork's making. The formal structure suggests an exploration of binaries—public versus private, opulent versus modest, seen and unseen. The image does not have a single, fixed meaning, but invites continuous interpretation through its formal qualities, and its engagement with cultural and philosophical concerns.