“Paul and Virginie” Furnishing Fabric after 1818

Tony Johannot created this furnishing fabric called “Paul and Virginie” using textile techniques sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The fabric presents a pattern of scenes encased in horizontally oriented ovals, divided by vertical stripes ornamented with spiraling lines. The limited use of tone emphasizes the linearity of the designs, lending a graphic quality to the overall pattern. The ovals function as frames, each containing idyllic vignettes populated by figures in what appears to be a tropical setting. Smaller rectangular frames punctuate the spaces between the ovals. The entire composition relies on repetition and symmetry, typical of fabric design, yet the scenes themselves suggest narratives, hinting at themes of love, nature, and perhaps colonialism. The fabric’s structure suggests a deeper engagement with the cultural codes of its time, inviting us to consider how such patterns contribute to the construction and dissemination of ideologies within the domestic space. The interplay between decorative form and representational content encourages multiple readings and interpretations.