Interieur c. 1830 - 1850

Firma Feuchère sketched this interior view in pencil. The sketch presents an opportunity to consider the role of interior design in reflecting and shaping social values. Interior spaces, especially those of the wealthy, are powerful signifiers of status, taste, and cultural aspiration. Made in France, this sketch suggests a world of aristocratic refinement, reflecting the tastes of a particular social class. Through careful examination of archival material, we can better understand the historical context of this image. Catalogues of furniture, design manuals, and social histories all offer insights into how spaces like these functioned as stages for social performance and expressions of cultural identity. The study of art becomes, in this view, the study of social history.