Rougets, vitrail. Libellules et monnaie du pape, étoffe. 1897

Maurice Pillard Verneuil created this design for a stained glass window and textile, showcasing fish, dragonflies and seedpods. Verneuil was a master of the Art Nouveau style, which was all about infusing fine art with nature, and elevating the crafts to the level of high art. Here, the image is a print. If it were stained glass, the lead lines would create a strong graphic effect, almost like a drawing. The flat planes of color would be determined by the specific glasses chosen, each with its own inherent qualities of light transmission. With textile, the image would be achieved through the labor-intensive methods of weaving or printing. This would create a pattern, infinitely repeatable and able to adorn any surface. Either way, this design beautifully illustrates the Art Nouveau ethos. It blurs the boundaries between media, between the natural world and stylized representation, and between industry and art.