Twee stoelen 1895 - 1935

Curator: Looking at this print entitled "Twee Stoelen," created sometime between 1895 and 1935 by Léon Laroche, what's your initial impression? Editor: Oh, it’s whispering sweet nothings of rococo decadence! Imagine sinking into those curves with a velvet robe and a tragic secret. Is it just me, or are those chairs flirting with each other? Curator: The artwork gives us two watercolor illustrations showing chairs in the Louis XV style, a style which itself signified aristocracy, artistry and affluence. It reminds me that decorative art wasn’t just about embellishment; it projected a certain status and ideology. Editor: Status, sure, but also a playful rebellion! That floral pattern is so unapologetically opulent. It's as if these chairs were daring anyone to take them seriously, even if serious people might be the ones enjoying the piece, historically. I bet you anything that print sold well to middle class people who dreamt of aristocracy! Curator: The context is crucial here. Examining prints such as these reveals shifts in taste and class. It shows a democratizing impulse—where the upper class taste became accessible to other people. Also, prints allowed manufacturers to present styles of furnishings to consumers who needed to buy them! Editor: I never would've thought of it that way! Still, I keep imagining how cold that white must feel when it isn't draped in sunlight, when it hasn't been worn to become comfortable and warm. Does anyone ever look at an image of a perfect chair and feel envious, or only cold? Curator: Ultimately, the appeal of art often hinges on more than the intention of a particular socio-political program or the artist behind it. It hinges on individual perception. What the historical market for a watercolor image was isn't important to our perceptions today! Editor: You always bring it back to museums, don’t you? Well, museums are great for pondering these historical threads and personal musings! That's what art is for, isn't it, even decorative art— a reminder of what has been, and how much we might never know.