Armchair (Fauteuil) 1700 - 1735

Curator: This "Armchair" or "Fauteuil" as it’s formally known, hails from the early 18th century, around 1700 to 1735. It’s a gorgeous example of the kind of decorative arts you’d find gracing homes during the Baroque period. We can see this work residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It looks incredibly formal but also, somehow, deeply comfortable. I imagine sinking into that floral landscape of a seat after a long day and letting the cares of the world simply melt away. The curves are so inviting, a stark contrast to the world’s square edges. Curator: It's a great point to bring up comfort! You are likely seeing a connection to leisure as the form, in particular, speaks to the economics of furniture production during the Baroque period, illustrating consumption within elite European households. Editor: Right! And those flowers woven into the textile! Do you think they chose specific blooms for their symbolic meaning? I wonder if some of those who wove the tapestry imbued their dreams of escaping rural poverty. Curator: Most definitely. Textile production like the Aubusson tapestries adorning this piece involved extensive labor networks and these specific materials, which served not only an aesthetic purpose but also functioned as statements of wealth and class distinction. Also note that beneath the textile lies a wooden frame - an art form in and of itself - as it highlights a more classical element of furniture-making during this era. Editor: That blending of sculpture, textiles, and carpentry! Each material offering its texture and tone is pretty amazing. Curator: And thinking about materiality reminds us about furniture production being crucial in creating complex socio-economic systems within Europe during that era. The "Armchair" is more than a thing we might sit on. Editor: Absolutely, and looking at it this way is such a vibrant way to reimagine what it means to truly ‘see’ art – and a comfy chair.