Design for a ceiling 1860 - 1900

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this design for a ceiling with graphite and watercolor. Lachaise was working in France during a period when architects and designers were revisiting historical styles. This drawing reflects a neoclassical sensibility, where order and symmetry were highly valued. The overall design is geometric, with rectangular and circular motifs creating a sense of balance. The soft color palette of blues, pinks, and browns suggests a desire for elegance and refinement. Ceilings like this would have been commissioned for wealthy patrons who wanted to demonstrate their social status through carefully curated interiors. To fully understand this design, we need to delve into the decorative arts and architectural history of early 20th century France. Auction catalogs, interior design magazines, and pattern books can shed light on the aesthetic values and social meanings embedded in this drawing.