Kast en buffetkast 1832 - 1877

This print, titled 'Kast en buffetkast', was created anonymously to showcase furniture designs. Prints like this played a crucial role in shaping domestic ideals and material culture, offering designs that could democratize access to fashionable interiors, yet they also reinforced existing social hierarchies. During the 19th century, home décor became increasingly intertwined with identity, reflecting aspirations of class and taste. Furniture designs, like these, embodied a tension between functionality and the desire for aesthetic expression. The identity of the furniture maker is absent, reminding us of the often-unrecognized labor behind these objects. The print suggests that taste and style were increasingly available for purchase, yet the ability to acquire these items remained linked to economic status. This print invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between domestic spaces, identity, and social structures, while acknowledging the hands that shaped the material world we inhabit.