Vier poefen 1885 - 1895

Curator: Oh, what an utterly charming set of poufs! Editor: Charming is one word. My first impression is almost comically decadent. All that trimming… it's pure fantasy. Curator: Indeed. What we're looking at here is "Vier poefen," dating from between 1885 and 1895, attributed to Léon Laroche. It's a watercolor, and a fine example of decorative art from the Art Nouveau era. What interests me is its function, reflecting aspirations of upwardly mobile middle class through their domestic setting. These objects are intended to convey "taste" and status. Editor: Status definitely leaps out! I see echoes of earlier Rococo frivolity, almost Louis XVI, but translated into a slightly more accessible, "modern" idiom. What's so fascinating is the imagery on the cushions themselves. I’m spotting floral motifs, some hinting at classical figures... visual echoes of prosperity. It taps into deep-seated associations with luxury and ease. Curator: The pastiche of styles is interesting; they borrow from high-end design to provide domestic comfort. Editor: Absolutely! Each pouf becomes a little stage for projecting identity, an opportunity to present a carefully constructed image to guests. The way Laroche renders the textiles too—the shimmering silks, the tassels…it's all about conveying richness and sensory pleasure. These colors—pastel with strong golds and browns—speak about wealth and its performance within private spaces. Curator: So well-placed for marketing and creating interior styles in an industrializing world. This sheet is like a page ripped from a magazine on luxury design! Editor: Precisely! A wish-fulfillment fantasy rendered in watercolour. A glimpse into the aspirations and the decorative excesses of a bygone era. I’m leaving with new impressions on the psychology embedded in this design! Curator: Indeed; the image of interior comfort from so long ago still strikes familiar today in a consumer society.