Geranium sauvage 2 1896

Maurice Pillard Verneuil created "Geranium sauvage 2," though we don't know exactly when, as a design, likely intended for textiles or wallpaper. Verneuil was part of the Art Nouveau movement, which sought to integrate art into everyday life. Looking at this piece, I am struck by how Verneuil plays with pattern and color. The stylized geraniums, repeated in varying arrangements, evoke a sense of both natural abundance and structured order. It's interesting to consider the socio-cultural context of the time: the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when rapid industrialization was transforming society. Art Nouveau emerged, in part, as a response to this, embracing craftsmanship and organic forms as alternatives to mass-produced goods. Verneuil's design, with its emphasis on hand-drawn lines and natural motifs, speaks to a desire for a return to nature. This piece reminds us of the emotional and aesthetic power of design in everyday life. It is a reflection of society’s evolving relationship with nature amid industrial change.