Page from a Scrapbook containing Drawings and Several Prints of Architecture, Interiors, Furniture and Other Objects 1795 - 1805

This page from a scrapbook containing drawings and several prints of architecture, interiors, furniture and other objects was made by Charles Percier in the 18th or 19th century. The page presents a contrast between the vast expanse of blank space on the left and the concentration of architectural sketches on the right. The drawings, rendered with precise linework, offer a glimpse into Percier's architectural interests and the prevailing Neoclassical style of his time. These sketches are not mere representations; they are structural investigations, each line carefully considered to convey form and spatial relationships. The composition, seemingly simple, encourages us to consider the dialogue between absence and presence, between the void of the blank page and the density of the architectural form. The scrapbook page acts as a semiotic canvas, inviting viewers to decode the relationships between the drawings, their arrangement, and the underlying cultural codes. It reflects the ethos of its time, oscillating between rational structure and the free play of imagination.