Chaise longue 1895 - 1935

This "Chaise Longue" is a print on paper by Léon Laroche, and the marks are so delicate, it's like a watercolor. I am reminded that art is all about choices. The surface is smooth, the colors transparent. Where did they choose to put a bit of blue, a bit of pink? A touch of gold embellishment highlights the legs of the chaise. Imagine the decisions around each line, each curve. The pattern on the chaise lounge itself is just a hint of ornament, a ghostly afterimage. All these choices build a vision, not just of a piece of furniture but of a whole culture. It makes me think of Fragonard, or even Watteau, in its dreamy, pastel quality. But maybe what they were really thinking about was the ongoing conversation between ornament and utility, between design and fine art. We're still turning that over today.