Twee confidents 1895

Léon Laroche's "Twee Confidents" presents two furniture designs, likely created as part of a collection showcasing French styles. These designs, labeled "Louis XVI" and "Louis XV," evoke a sense of aristocratic elegance and invite us to consider the cultural values embedded in decorative arts. The "confident" or "conversation chair", allowed for intimate dialogue between people, whispering secrets, and perhaps creating a space for coded communication in the rigid social settings of the time. The designs themselves, with their delicate lines and pastel hues, might be read as expressions of gendered spaces. What kind of conversations were seen as acceptable to have in this type of furniture, and who was allowed to be a part of them? How might these spaces have been exclusionary? Considering these couches as a backdrop for social interactions invites us to question the power dynamics inherent in these seemingly innocuous designs. They are a reminder that even the most beautiful objects can be implicated in complex social and political narratives.