Design for Curtains 1841 - 1884

Editor: Here we have "Design for Curtains," an undated drawing on paper by Charles Hindley and Sons, likely from between 1841 and 1884. It's a very linear pencil sketch. What strikes me is how architectural it feels, despite depicting fabric. What do you see in it? Curator: Precisely. Observe how line dictates form here. The drawing's power resides in its emphasis on geometric relationships: the sharp verticality of the window frame opposed against the soft draping folds rendered through parallel hatching. Consider, too, the interplay between the solidity of the architecture implied and the lightness of the material depicted. It is, essentially, an exploration of contrasts. Editor: So it’s about more than just showing what the curtains would look like? Curator: Indeed. The sketch prompts contemplation about the very nature of representation itself. The work encourages one to ask: How do lines on a page convey weight, texture, and dimension? Consider the meticulous detail around the pelmet, isn't that curvilinear complexity almost an antidote to the strict linearity defining the rest? Editor: It is, actually! Now that I see it, the top part feels ornate, while the curtains themselves look rather simple in shape and line. Curator: Yes, this deliberate contrast between elaborate detail and streamlined form reveals the work's aesthetic strategy. Look also at how light is handled; areas are left almost untouched by pencil allowing light to enter in specific ways as it reflects and refracts off folds and trim. Note, if we were to use semiotics, this is all code, with various symbolic readings. Editor: That’s fascinating. I initially just saw a simple drawing, but looking at it this way makes me see all the considered artistic choices. Curator: Exactly! Now you understand the ability that a focus on intrinsic qualities of the object has; close examination opens new pathways to meaning!