Ontwerp voor een hanger met bloemtakken van de witte wisteria, van geëmailleerd goud c. 1905

Here we see Paul Louchet's design for a pendant with white wisteria, delicately rendered with watercolor and pencil. What strikes me is the piece's softness, the way the colours blend almost imperceptibly. It’s clear Louchet wasn’t aiming for stark lines but rather a sense of flow, of life unfolding. The powdery texture of the white wisteria against the pale blue background creates a gentle contrast, which is soothing, dreamlike. Look at the way the gold framework loops and curves, a firm structure that still manages to feel light. It’s like a dance between strength and fragility, between the artificial and the natural. The hanging chains, they remind me of rain, or tears. Are they holding the piece together or letting it unravel? This tension is really interesting because art, at its best, should ask questions, not give answers. Like life, it should be an open-ended conversation, an exchange of ideas and feelings across time.