Stalenboek met damaststalen en foto's, ontwerpen Chris Lebeau 1888 - 1945

Curator: It's curious, isn't it? This seemingly humble "Stalenboek met damaststalen en foto's, ontwerpen Chris Lebeau"—roughly, a sample book showcasing damask steel patterns and photographs, designs by Chris Lebeau—spanning the years 1888 to 1945. A tangible artifact of design. Editor: It looks almost like a well-worn ledger, holding secrets and histories within its covers. There’s something deeply appealing about its understated presence, belying, I imagine, the intricate designs housed inside. What world does it conjure for you? Curator: Oh, worlds within worlds! For me, Lebeau's work is always a delicate dance between the functional and the fantastical. He has this uncanny ability to find the extraordinary in the everyday. You see, his designs weren’t mere patterns; they were poems woven into fabric. Imagine dining with such art. Editor: Indeed! Knowing that this sample book belongs to the Art Nouveau movement is so vital. We must think about the historical contexts during those decades, and what it might have meant to bring these textile designs into bourgeois households at the end of the 19th century, when class difference and industry started transforming European society. How did this artwork normalize particular experiences of class? Curator: Precisely! And to think, each page offers a glimpse into Lebeau’s design philosophy—a meticulous blend of craft and imagination. What feels most powerful here is how deeply personal, how intuitive, this book feels. As though he's sharing a piece of himself with us. Editor: Considering Lebeau's socialist convictions, the project feels intrinsically tied to accessibility and democratizing art. These objects would’ve entered private homes and interrupted ordinary life with the desire for progress. Curator: Ah, yes, you bring an crucial aspect, how those intentions intersect with the broader political and social currents of the time. I get chills imagining what future archeologists will infer from our era’s obsession with algorithms! Editor: Absolutely. Thinking of Lebeau’s body of work inspires conversations that we ought to carry forward to consider labor and distribution. Curator: Agreed, it’s an honor to find bridges to his universe. Editor: Indeed, the power of design—it touches everything.