Deurversiering in het huis op Noordeinde 140 te Den Haag c. 1900 - 1915

This sepia photograph shows a door decoration inside the house at Noordeinde 140 in The Hague. I wonder, what stories do these walls hold? Imagine the anonymous artisan, working with plaster or wood, carefully carving out the decorative details, maybe in the early morning light, or late into the night by candlelight. I’m drawn to the oval relief above the door, it’s classical in style and probably depicts some allegorical scene. It reminds me a little of Robert Adam's neoclassical friezes, only more intimate and domestic in scale. It’s interesting how the artist has framed the composition with dark wood panels. I can imagine the kind of conversations and exchanges that would have occurred between the architects, designers, and artisans responsible for creating this beautiful interior. It makes me think about how artists are always in conversation with each other across time, inspiring new forms and ideas.