Nénuphar 1896

This print titled Nénuphar, was made by Maurice Pillard Verneuil. The flat, decorative style reflects its time, most likely during the late 19th or early 20th century. We can imagine Verneuil, as a designer working within the Arts and Crafts milieu, where he sought to create beautiful, functional objects that could be made by hand or with simple tools. The design of this print speaks to this artistic approach, as it seems Verneuil was exploring the ways in which natural forms could be abstracted and stylized for mass production, and to create surface patterns for textiles or wallpapers. Despite its flat appearance, there is a great amount of care and consideration in the process in which the artist carefully renders each petal and leaf, creating a sense of depth and texture through subtle variations in line and tone. This blend of naturalism and abstraction is typical of the period, and reflects a desire to create objects that were both beautiful and useful. Verneuil here has challenged the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.