Design for Wallpaper with Alternating Vertical Rows of Pairs of Ornamental Frames of Two Sizes Framed by Interlacing Garlands of Laurel Leaves Tied by a Bow 1870 - 1900

Curator: My first impression? It’s...a bit much. In the best way possible. It has this very dense, almost oppressive feel. A little claustrophobic maybe? Yet somehow opulent and inviting too. Editor: Well, let's delve into what exactly makes this design so evocative. We’re looking at a work whose official name is "Design for Wallpaper with Alternating Vertical Rows of Pairs of Ornamental Frames of Two Sizes Framed by Interlacing Garlands of Laurel Leaves Tied by a Bow." It's unsigned, created sometime between 1870 and 1900, and it resides here at The Met. A dizzying title for a rather...dizzying design. Curator: "Dizzying" is perfect. All those ribbons and wreaths sort of jostle for space, don’t they? The artist packs everything together so tightly, a real visual feast…or maybe a visual free-for-all, depending on your mood. It makes you wonder about the room it was intended for, who lived amongst those walls. Editor: Precisely. Think about the historical context: late 19th-century sensibilities valued layering, ornamentation, and evoking classical grandeur. The Arts and Crafts movement was also underway, trying to reclaim craftsmanship amidst industrialization. This wallpaper bridges those desires and tensions, using repeating designs printed and likely mechanically applied to emulate the handcrafted. Curator: Ah, the old handmade-versus-machine tension. I can definitely see it. It makes you think about the labor involved, the designer’s intentions…the hopes and dreams literally woven into the very fabric of a home. I love the subtle asymmetry too. Nothing lines up quite perfectly. Editor: It is carefully curated excess! The symmetry feels designed, creating a structured but elaborate viewing experience. Remember, this era also wrestled with social anxieties, from anxieties about class structures, to empire. The geometric pattern, the bows, even the laurels reflect that tension: striving for order against forces threatening chaos. The walls really do talk if you stop to listen! Curator: They do! Looking at it, it evokes such strong reactions and thoughts...It is interesting that something functional can feel so loaded. That tension you mention between chaos and control; now I cannot unsee it. Editor: Art constantly negotiates function and meaning. It's about seeing history reflected in the mundane, making everyday life a little richer, a little stranger, maybe a little overwhelming—just like this wonderful wallpaper.