Venster en deur met gordijnen 1895

Here we see Léon Laroche's drawing with the title, "Venster en deur met gordijnen". The drawing is horizontally divided, each side presenting a different arrangement of curtains. The eye is immediately drawn to the rhythmic repetition of folds and tassels, creating a soft, undulating texture across the composition. Laroche juxtaposes two distinct styles: on the left, a window draped with ornate, layered curtains, and on the right, a simpler curtain arrangement hanging from a rod over a door. This contrast invites us to consider the semiotics of interior design. The curtains function as signs, communicating values of opulence versus simplicity. The formal qualities of each design—the density of folds, the symmetry, and the detailing—contribute to their respective messages. These curtains don’t just adorn spaces; they define them. By presenting these options, Laroche engages with the broader cultural dialogue of taste, class, and the performative aspects of domestic life. The drawing encourages a recognition that our choices are always culturally coded.