Side chair (one of a pair) (part of a set) 1770 - 1785

Editor: This side chair, one of a pair, was crafted sometime between 1770 and 1785 by Georges Jacob. It's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What strikes me is how every surface, whether wood or textile, seems to bloom with delicate floral patterns. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Looking at this chair, I immediately see a complex interplay of material and labor. The carved wood, the woven textile – each element speaks to different production processes and social contexts. Who was involved in the creation of this object, from the lumberjack to the weaver? What were their working conditions? Consider the vast social chasm between those who labored and the aristocratic consumers. Editor: That’s a really interesting angle! I hadn’t thought about the labor involved so explicitly. So, would you say the chair highlights a tension between high art and craft? Curator: Precisely! This chair exists in a liminal space, challenging those neat categories. It's functional, yes, but also a decorative art object intended to project a certain status. We need to critically examine that status, that luxury. How were these materials acquired, transformed, and ultimately consumed? The chair is more than just Rococo style; it's evidence of systems of labor, wealth, and power. Editor: I guess I was drawn to the beauty of the floral patterns, but I understand now how those patterns were essentially built on the backs of others, through exploitation of both resources and labor. Curator: Exactly. Recognizing that historical context allows us to fully understand and appreciate the intricate layers of meaning woven into its design and execution. Editor: Thanks! Now I’m looking at the chair in a new light – as an embodiment of its historical conditions, a record of power and labor.