Versierde dressoir uit de zestiende eeuw 1850 - 1900

This photograph of an ornate sixteenth-century dresser was captured by Médéric Mieusement, a 19th-century French photographer. Mieusement lived in a time of great social change, including the rise of the middle class, which helped to fuel a fascination with history and historical objects. This dresser, with its intricate carvings and imposing presence, speaks to the values of the elites for whom it was made, during the Renaissance. Its existence is very much tied to class and power, representing a time when furniture was a means to display wealth and sophistication. By photographing it Mieusement invites the viewer to contemplate themes of social status, artistry, and history. What does it mean to possess and display such objects? What stories do they tell about those who could afford them? These are the questions that linger as we consider this image.