Ontwerp voor een secretaire 1816

Joseph Nussbaumer’s design for a secretaire presents us with a symphony of architectural precision and vibrant color. Executed in ink and watercolor, the drawing’s tripartite structure immediately draws the eye: frontal view, cross-section, and plan view, each rendered with meticulous detail. The secretaire itself, dominated by a robust red hue, is crowned with a miniature classical facade complete with columns and an arched niche. This architectural mimicry is not merely decorative, it plays with scale and form to challenge our perception of furniture as purely functional objects. The cross-section to the right, rendered in cooler tones, offers a ghostly counterpoint, exposing the secretaire’s internal logic and construction. At the base, the plan view provides a glimpse into the imagined space it would inhabit, adorned with geometric patterns and subtle color accents. Nussbaumer's design engages with broader discussions about domestic space, functionality, and the integration of classical ideals into everyday life. This tension between utility and architectural grandeur makes the design an object of aesthetic contemplation, not just a piece of furniture.