Design for the decoration of a ceiling in strapwork and rinceaux 1830 - 1897

Editor: Here we have "Design for the decoration of a ceiling in strapwork and rinceaux" made between 1830 and 1897, by Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise. It’s a drawing or print on paper, and it’s incredibly detailed. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: I'm drawn to the deliberate layering of patterns and colors, the meticulous line work; it all speaks volumes about the production of such decorative arts. This was a pre-digital age; how does the materiality of the paper and ink influence our understanding of its value and purpose? Think about the labor invested. Editor: I see that now! It's not just an image, but a record of someone’s skill and time. But why focus on that so much? Isn't the visual aspect just as important? Curator: The visual *is* important, but inseparable from the material reality. The availability, cost, and the techniques for manipulating paper and pigments during this period defined the aesthetic possibilities. Consider who had access to these materials and skills. It says much about social stratification. Is this design for everyone or for the elite? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. So, the paper and pigments used tell a story about wealth and access in that time? And how it would have actually looked in the place is yet another factor… Curator: Precisely. The consumption of this design, if realised, also brings us to look into the economic conditions of the late 19th century, of artistic patronage, or maybe of burgeoning industrial wealth? It moves us from appreciating decoration to critiquing modes of making, of living. Editor: I see what you mean. By focusing on the materials and their context, we get a much deeper understanding of the design itself and the world it came from. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Indeed, I am walking away understanding that "decoration" may signal the socio-economics behind it.