Venster met gordijnen after 1878

This print of a window with curtains was likely made to advertise the textiles and tailoring available at a furniture store. Though anonymous, the artist has captured the luxurious materiality of drapes in soft browns and blues, complete with tassels and elegant swags. Consider all the labor involved here. The mining of materials for dyes, the spinning of threads, the weaving of fabric, and the careful handwork required to assemble these elaborate curtains. In this image, the window frames a tranquil scene of a river, likely intended to evoke feelings of calm and serenity. Yet, such luxury relied on a complex global system of trade and production, often involving exploited labor. This print, then, is not merely a depiction of a window but a window onto a whole world of making, consumption, and social relations. Appreciating the artistry involved challenges traditional distinctions between mere commercial design and the world of fine art.