Kroonluchter c. 1870 - 1894

This chandelier design, by Gustave Joseph Chéret, was made using graphite on paper, sometime in the late nineteenth century. Looking closely at the image, it’s clear that the artist wasn’t simply concerned with aesthetics. Instead, it appears to be a technical drawing; a visual tool used to communicate the precise specifications of the chandelier's form and structure. We can see faint grid lines beneath the graphite, which Chéret likely used to maintain the correct proportions and symmetrical balance. Lighting design in this period became increasingly elaborate, driven by both new technologies like gas and electric lighting, and the demands of a burgeoning middle class seeking status symbols for their homes. Designs like this one required highly skilled metalworkers and glassmakers to realize, representing a complex interplay between artistic vision, industrial production, and social aspiration. Chéret’s drawing invites us to consider the labor and materials involved in creating such an object, bridging the gap between the initial design and its eventual physical manifestation.