Raam met gordijnen 1800 - 1900

This drawing of window curtains was made by an anonymous artist. It's difficult to date, but it appears to be a design sample for 'rideaux japonais', or Japanese curtains. Japan’s influence on western art and design surged in the second half of the 19th century. After centuries of near isolation, Japan opened its ports to foreign trade in 1853-4, and ‘Japonisme’ became all the rage. Japanese art and design was a major source of inspiration for western artists in many fields, including Impressionist painters, printmakers, and designers of all kinds. The drawing's function as a design sample raises some interesting institutional questions. Was it commissioned by a manufacturer? Was it circulated among retailers? Documents from the period may shed light on such questions. It’s a reminder that art objects often exist within a larger network of social and economic relations. By situating art within its proper social context, we begin to understand the historical forces that shaped its production and reception.