Mise-en-carte (Point-paper) 1760 - 1790

This Mise-en-carte, or Point-paper, showcases a variety of floral motifs in a grid-like format, designed for textile production. The peonies, berries, and other blossoms, rendered in shades of pink, yellow and white, are not merely decorative. Consider the recurrence of floral patterns throughout history, echoing through ancient Minoan frescoes to the tapestries of the Middle Ages. Flowers, as symbols of ephemerality and renewal, touch something deep within us. They evoke feelings of longing, the cycle of life and death, and the beauty found in transience. Here, the grid is a fascinating element. It reminds me of the Mondrian's abstract compositions, where the grid symbolizes order and structure. Yet, within the grid, the floral motifs introduce an element of organic chaos, a tension that speaks to the human desire to control nature while simultaneously surrendering to its beauty. The floral designs engage our emotions through the power of collective memory. These images recur across time, constantly revived, triggering our unconscious recognition.