Design for the decoration of a ceiling with strapwork 1830 - 1897

This design for a ceiling decoration with strapwork was made by Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise using watercolor, gouache, and graphite. Lachaise lived through a period of significant cultural transformation, particularly within the decorative arts. Here, the rigid geometric forms of the strapwork, rendered in soft purples and blues, echo the motifs found in both Renaissance and Baroque designs, while the naturalistic elements of the leaves soften the architecture. What does it mean to live with this tension between rigidity and organic growth, the classical and the modern? The appeal of such historically-inspired designs speaks to a desire to connect with past traditions. It gives us a sense of grounding and continuity, perhaps especially during an era of rapid social and artistic change. This piece invites you to look up and consider how our spaces shape our sense of identity.