Rajah 1899

Henri Privat-Livemont created this advert, Rajah, using lithography. It presents a vertical composition dominated by a rich, red background that immediately captures the eye, offset by curvilinear forms and elegant details. The Art Nouveau aesthetics are palpable, evoking a sense of luxury and exoticism. The woman embodies an idealized version of Eastern allure. Her refined features and the elaborate headdress, detailed with jewels and intricate patterns, indicate an interest in orientalism. The steam rising from the cup she holds delicately is rendered with fluid lines. Privat-Livemont uses the whiplash curves characteristic of the movement, to construct a semiotic code of luxury and beauty that, simultaneously, attempts to destabilize established categories of representation. Note the symmetry and balance, as well as the curvilinear structure of the hair, steam, and patterns on her dress that function aesthetically while echoing the broader cultural fascination with the exotic "Orient". Through his formal manipulations and evocative imagery, the work presents the ever-shifting nature of meaning.