Twee bureaus met lades 1895 - 1935

Here are two desks, depicted with line and watercolour by Léon Laroche. The soft, pale colour palette gives the impression of a hand-tinted photograph. The lines feel precise and architectural, and the colours are delicately added after. The two desks are almost identical except for their surfaces, one rose and the other green. It feels like a technical drawing, but the slight variations in tone and the way the shadows are rendered bring a warmth and depth to the image, making it more than just a diagram. Look at the legs of the desks; you can see the artist has brought out the curve in these with slightly darker and thicker line work. A sense of movement is created from something static and functional. I’m thinking of artists like Ed Ruscha, and his books of parking lots and swimming pools. Laroche has found a way to elevate the everyday to something that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.