Ontwerp voor een beklede canapé 1820

Carl Wilhelm Marckwort created this design for an upholstered canapé, or sofa, using graphite and brush in gray. The sofa embodies the neoclassical style, popular during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval, including the French Revolution and the rise of nationalism. As a style, Neoclassicism looked back to the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, often seen as symbols of democracy and republicanism. Consider the canapé not just as a piece of furniture, but as a stage for social interactions, a silent witness to conversations about politics, philosophy, and art. It raises questions about who had access to such luxury and comfort, and how these objects shaped their identities and experiences. The canapé then is more than a design; it's an artifact that whispers stories of power, privilege, and the complex dynamics of the society that produced it.