Ligbanken met gordijnen 1820

Charles Pierre Joseph Normand rendered this image of curtained couches in pen, ink, and wash. It speaks volumes about domestic life and private spaces. Notice the prominence of the draped fabric. Curtains, like those depicted here, have long served as more than mere window coverings. Think of the veils of antiquity, concealing sacred spaces and divine mysteries. Similarly, the curtains here suggest a theatrical boundary, separating the public and private realms. Consider, too, the psychological weight of these spaces. The couch, draped and enclosed, becomes a sanctuary. This brings to mind the psychoanalytic couch, a space for introspection and the unveiling of the subconscious. What secrets do these domestic settings hold? And how might they shape the individuals who inhabit them? The design has a sense of cyclical return. This is not merely furniture; it is a stage set for the human drama.