Design for Blue Curtains with Gold Fringes and Pediments 1800 - 1850

This anonymous design for blue curtains with gold fringes and pediments was made using watercolor and graphite on paper. The drawing presents an unrealized design for opulent window coverings. The cultural references here are to wealth and power. In the absence of any firm dating, we might think of it in relation to the rise of the department store, which transformed the culture of shopping and display. Institutions such as these drove the demand for novelties and fashion. Interior design and decoration were becoming professions in their own right, as new industries emerged to cater to middle-class aspirations. It’s possible this design was part of a larger pattern book, offering clients a range of possible looks. These drawings testify to the changing social function of design. By considering the cultural and economic context, we can better understand the meanings embedded in the artwork.