Courge 2 1896

Editor: Right, let’s talk about “Courge 2,” a poster made around 1896 by Maurice Pillard Verneuil. I’m immediately struck by how orderly and patterned it is; it’s a feast of gourds and leaves! It’s so visually rich that it is hard to know where to look first, which creates tension in my brain! I mean that in a good way! What's your take on this riot of nature, or geometry? Curator: Well, for starters, it’s quintessential Art Nouveau, isn’t it? Verneuil, like many artists of that period, seemed to want to inject art into every aspect of life. Look at how he elevates something as humble as a squash into a decorative motif, into the geometry that you mentioned! You could almost taste the optimism of the fin de siècle, their genuine desire to beautify the world, one squash at a time! Doesn’t it feel…hopeful? Editor: It really does. I notice how the stylized vines and leaves create a rhythmic pattern. Was he intentionally blurring the line between art and design? Curator: Absolutely! Think of the Arts and Crafts movement; Art Nouveau artists were blurring those lines all the time, darling! It’s as if the geometry of decoration offers to unlock our capacity for noticing rhythm, growth and beauty. The plants may fade, but art keeps singing its harmony! Now, isn't that uplifting? Editor: Definitely, it puts a new perspective on everyday life. Thanks for bringing the artwork to life, that made the beauty and rhythm become clear to me. Curator: My pleasure, dear! It always reminds me of a garden after the rain, life and art springing anew!