Piverts et arbre, bordure verticale. Lapins et feuilles, bordure. Méduses, anémones de mer et algues, vase. Insectes, jeu de fond. 1897

Maurice Pillard Verneuil created this print, titled *Piverts et arbre, bordure verticale*, showcasing his flair for stylized natural forms. Immediately, the composition strikes us with its vertical orientation, divided into distinct decorative panels. The left border features woodpeckers amidst winding branches, creating a rhythmic, upward movement. To the right, rabbits are neatly arranged, their forms simplified into graphic shapes. The most striking element is the large vase filled with jellyfish and seaweed. Verneuil skillfully employs a muted palette of greens, browns, and oranges, typical of the Art Nouveau aesthetic. These colors are not merely decorative; they serve to flatten the perspective, emphasizing the design's two-dimensionality. The intricate patterns and the stylized depiction of nature reflect a broader artistic concern with the decorative arts. The artist blurs the lines between naturalism and abstraction, suggesting a semiotic system where each element functions as both sign and symbol. Note, finally, how Verneuil destabilizes our conventional understanding of form and function by transforming everyday objects into ornamental patterns. This print invites us to reconsider the boundaries of art and design.