Iris 1896

Maurice Pillard Verneuil created this print of irises using pochoir, a type of stenciling, probably around the turn of the 20th century. Verneuil was part of the Art Nouveau movement, which took inspiration from the natural world. Like many artists of the time, Verneuil sold his designs to manufacturers of textiles, wallpaper, and other decorative arts, and he taught at École Estienne, a college of graphic arts in Paris. Prints like these were part of a wider effort to integrate art and design with industry. This print is an instructional tool and a celebration of the beauty and complexity of nature. Historians of design can find similar prints in books, magazines, and museum collections. By understanding the institutions in which art is made, taught, and circulated, we can better understand the social and cultural values it represents.