Venster en deur met gordijnen 1895

Léon Laroche designed this print, "Venster en deur met gordijnen", or "Window and Door with Curtains," using watercolor to illustrate textiles for interior decoration. The print features two distinct window and door designs, each adorned with elaborate curtain arrangements. The design to the left is more ornate and floral, while the right design is simpler in its draping and color scheme. Laroche uses line and shading to convey the texture and fall of the fabric, drawing the viewer’s eye to the elaborate swags and tails of the curtains, which function as framing devices around the architecture. This detailed depiction suggests that fabric isn't merely a backdrop but is a structural element that shapes and defines a space. Laroche's work invites us to consider how interior design elements carry cultural codes and reflect the values of display and concealment, form and function. In this way, Laroche subtly challenges our understanding of domestic space.