Twee torchères met bollampen c. 1870 - 1894

Curator: Gustave Joseph Chéret, around 1870 to 1894, gives us this exploratory drawing, titled "Twee torchères met bollampen"—two torchieres with spherical lamps. Editor: They seem almost like stage props! A bit tentative, ethereal even. Like someone dreaming up a ballroom and sketching out the light. Curator: I see that. Look at the lightness of the pencil work. It suggests Chéret was figuring things out, playing with the ornate, flamboyant possibilities of gaslight era fixtures. Notice how the lines fade in and out. It gives a sense of movement. Editor: Right! But it also speaks to labor. The design of lighting like this became intensely industrial. The sketches themselves might be artistic, but they point to mass production. You had armies of metalworkers, glassblowers… creating the lavishness sketched here. These weren't unique creations; they were made to sell. Curator: Oh, definitely. But still, in this little peek into the sketchbook, you get a feeling of Chéret's creative energy. Almost like he's winking at us, playing with the extravagant forms before they solidify into cast iron and glass. It’s as if he’s almost embarrassed by all of the decorative curlicues! Editor: And how these curlicues shaped society! Light like this extended the day, made it possible to work longer, consume more. This is a drawing about power, about electricity remaking how people lived and worked. I wonder if the folks assembling these torchieres felt as inspired as Chéret. Curator: Well, maybe they found a little inspiration in their paychecks, allowing them to buy a few baubles! Editor: A point, as always. This reminds us art and commerce are inseparable and constantly illuminate—pardon the pun—each other. Curator: Well, it seems Chéret offers us both inspiration and questions this time. A spark of an idea indeed.