Reliëf met arabesken en een maskerkop c. 1875 - 1900

Gustave Eugène Chauffourier created this relief with arabesques and a mask head sometime between 1845 and 1919. The design features swirling vegetal forms and a grotesque mask, revealing an interest in ornament that was typical of its time. France during the 19th century was gripped by debates about the role of design in society. Architects and theorists wondered: could beautiful forms improve the lives of ordinary people? Could they unite social classes? This relief is one small part of that story. Images like this circulated within institutions such as design schools, museums, and world’s fairs. These institutions promoted the idea that ornament should be inspired by historical sources. Ornament became a way to connect France to its past. To understand this relief better, one might examine the holdings of design schools of the period. Through this, we can better understand its cultural and institutional context.