Venster met gordijnen c. 1895 - 1910

Léon Laroche rendered this "Venster met gordijnen," or "Window with Curtains," with some kind of ink or paint, maybe gouache, who knows? I can imagine the artist in the studio, a commercial artist, working carefully to suggest the folds and pleats of this luxurious fabric. How he may have painstakingly built up the tones to give the illusion of depth and form. The drape is so luscious! It feels like Laroche wanted to celebrate the beauty and opulence of interior design. I like to imagine how artists are in constant conversation with one another, inspiring each other’s creativity. You know? Artists are magpies, taking a little bit from here and there. And, for me, painting is a form of embodied expression. It’s about embracing the ambiguity and uncertainty that allows for multiple interpretations. It’s so cool that we can all see something different.