Design for the painted decoration of a wall pierced by an arched window 1850 - 1900

This watercolor and graphite design for wall decoration was created by Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise. Born in France in 1897, Lachaise brings a sensibility steeped in European tradition to this interior space. The arched window and fleur-de-lis pattern evoke historical notions of French aristocracy. The wainscoting suggests a traditional, upper-class domestic space. Yet the decoration feels modern and airy. Consider how this design might act as a stage for different identities. The architecture subtly whispers of inherited status. At the same time, the design choices suggest an embrace of new aesthetic possibilities. The room could reflect the occupants' negotiation of old and new, tradition and change. What does this imagined space say about the values it seeks to project? It’s an invitation to reflect on the stories we tell through our surroundings.