Boekenkast 1895 - 1935

This image is a design for a 'Bibliotheque, Art Nouveau,' made with delicate lines and washes of color. It reminds me of a really nice architectural rendering, but softer, like a daydream. I can imagine Léon Laroche, the artist, hovering over the paper, thinking, "How can I make something that feels both functional and totally whimsical?" The light catches the pale woodgrain of the bookcase, with those rounded art nouveau flourishes. A bust of a roman philosopher chills on top, next to a telescope pointed at the moon. It makes me think about how design, like painting, is all about solving a puzzle. Except the puzzle isn't just "what will this look like?" but also "how will it make people feel?". It shows how the practice of making constructs an inquiry for the artist and the viewer. These forms of art offer different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.