Blad met dieren, mensen en huizen 1850 - 1920

This sheet of decorative paper featuring animals, people, and houses was created by Dessauerschen Buntpapierfabrik, a German manufacturer of colored paper. Produced without a specific date, this artwork evokes the visual codes of 18th and 19th-century decorative arts, particularly those found in bourgeois homes. The scenes depicted—stylized animals, quaint houses, and figures in period dress—suggest a nostalgic view of rural or pastoral life, idealized for an urban, middle-class audience. The use of gold on a muted blue background adds a touch of luxury, typical of the era's aesthetic preferences. The Dessauerschen Buntpapierfabrik, as an institution, played a role in shaping popular taste and domestic culture. Their products were part of a broader trend of mass-produced decorative items that brought art into everyday life, reflecting and reinforcing the values of the emerging middle class. Further research into the company's archives and related publications could reveal more about the social and economic context in which this decorative paper was produced and consumed.