Twee stoelen 1895 - 1935

Editor: This print, entitled “Twee Stoelen,” dating from sometime between 1895 and 1935, depicts two chairs in the Neoclassical style. They’re labeled as being from the eras of Louis XV and Louis XVI. I find the design differences between the chairs really interesting, highlighting subtle shifts in taste and style over time. What strikes you most about the visual language of these chairs? Curator: The chairs, indeed, are not simply furniture, but potent signifiers of a particular moment in French history. Notice how the Louis XV chair features more flowing, organic shapes in its frame, echoed in the floral details. This speaks to the Rococo preference for curves, luxury and overt ornamentation. It represents the height of the "ancien regime," steeped in pleasure and elaborate rituals. Editor: And the Louis XVI chair? Curator: The Louis XVI chair, in contrast, utilizes straight lines and a more restrained palette. See the vertical stripes, the oval back? It's all about order and a return to classical ideals of simplicity and balance, reflecting the Enlightenment values that would eventually lead to revolution. Can you see how these chairs mirror the very different moods of their respective eras? Editor: I do now. It’s almost as if they are embodying a set of social and political values in their design. Do you think viewers at the time understood these subtle changes? Curator: Absolutely! The elite, certainly, would have keenly understood this visual language. These chairs were more than just places to sit. They were statements. Reminders of power, taste, and allegiance to specific cultural ideals. This piece offers insight into collective identities and their symbols of cultural continuity, even as those cultures were themselves changing. Editor: Fascinating. I’ll definitely look at furniture with a new perspective now. Seeing them as tangible symbols of their time makes them far more engaging.