Ontwerp voor een kachel met een vaas c. 1775 - 1785

This is "Ontwerp voor een kachel met een vaas," or "Design for a stove with a vase," created by Johann Samuel Nahl. Nahl lived through the Enlightenment, a period where reason and order were highly valued. This drawing encapsulates those values; notice the symmetrical arrangement of the classical motifs that reflect the era’s emphasis on balance and harmony. Yet, there is an emotional depth here, too. The vase, often associated with mourning, coupled with floral garlands, hints at the transient nature of life, a common theme explored during this time. Consider how such a design might function within the domestic space, particularly for women, who were often confined to the home. Was this an attempt to bring the outside in, to beautify and elevate the everyday through design? The drawing offers not just a design for an object, but a reflection on life, beauty, and our place within the world.