Ontwerp voor een (spiegel-?) lijst 1731 - 1788

This is Johann Esaias Nilson's design for a mirror frame, made with pen and gray ink, and gray wash on blue paper. Nilson, who lived in Augsburg, Germany, was working in the Rococo style, a period when art and design were becoming increasingly ornamental. This drawing gives us a glimpse into the world of interior decoration and the objects that shaped personal identity and social status. Notice how the frame features classical figures. These weren't just decorative; they reflected the values and aspirations of the elite, connecting them to a lineage of power and taste. The mirror itself, framed so elaborately, becomes a tool for self-reflection, literally and figuratively. Who is able to see themselves reflected in such an ornate object? How might this shape their sense of self? Ultimately, Nilson’s design speaks to how objects of beauty intertwine with identity, class, and cultural ideals.