Behangselpapier, bedrukt met een liggend geometrisch patroon van gestileerd grijsgroen bladwerk tussen roze bessen, chrysanten en vlinders tegen een okerkleurige achtergrond c. 1910

This is 'Behangselpapier', wallpaper printed with a horizontal geometric pattern of stylized grey-green foliage, pink berries, chrysanthemums, and butterflies on an ochre background by Theo Nieuwenhuis. Nieuwenhuis was a Dutch artist born in 1866, during a time of significant social change and growing awareness of the impact of industrialization on design. This wallpaper reflects the stylistic tendencies of the Art Nouveau movement, which sought to integrate art with everyday life and was inspired by natural forms. However, it also suggests the contradictions inherent in that movement. Art Nouveau was supposed to democratize art, making beautiful design accessible to all, but in practice it was often associated with luxury and exclusivity. Here we see stylized natural elements which are arranged with a formal geometric layout. This emphasizes both the beauty of nature and the structured constraints of interior space. Ultimately, the wallpaper reminds us of how the aesthetics of our personal environments shape our daily experiences and reflect the broader values of society.