Hoekstoel en bank 1745 - 1775

Editor: This print, titled "Hoekstoel en bank," dating from 1745 to 1775, depicts a corner chair and a sofa, rendered through engraving. The formality of the pieces and their presentation evokes a certain austerity, almost like a staged display. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: I see these pieces as emblematic of the societal structures they represent. The Baroque style, while ornate, was often wielded to reinforce class distinctions and project an image of power. Consider the function of these objects: designed for domestic spaces of the wealthy elite. Editor: So you're suggesting the print itself is not just about furniture, but about communicating something about social hierarchy? Curator: Precisely. Think about who had access to such luxury. Who benefited from the labor used to create these elaborate pieces? The print, intended to circulate amongst a certain class, subtly reinforces those power dynamics. The controlled environment in the picture mirrors controlled access in reality. Who gets to sit, who gets served? And how does this inform the spaces and behaviors that follow? Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands that actually built and maintained them versus the ones who used them. I never thought about furniture in terms of labor exploitation before. Curator: And consider the perspective. Aren't we placed as the viewer, the buyer maybe? What unspoken message do these arrangements tell the buyer and tell the seller? Where is the artisan’s viewpoint represented in society and, perhaps even moreso, within these lines? Editor: That's given me a lot to think about, seeing the print as more than just a design record. Curator: Indeed, by interrogating the design, production, and circulation of such objects, we gain a clearer understanding of the period's complex power relationships and the hidden stories objects often conceal.