Ontwerp voor kamerversiering met een paneel met centraal een blauwe achthoek 1767 - 1823

This is Abraham Meertens' design for a room decoration, carefully rendered with pen, black ink, and watercolor. It's easy to overlook drawings like this, but they reflect a complex social reality. Interior decoration in the 18th century was a big business, employing many designers and artisans. Meertens was one of the specialists who made drawings like this, showing clients what a finished interior would look like. The design here is based on symmetry, with a large octagonal panel, probably intended for a mirror or painting. The corners are decorated with black triangles featuring monochrome neoclassical scenes. Consider the labor implied here: not just Meertens' own hand, but also the many skilled tradesmen who would have been needed to execute the design. Think of the carpenters, plasterers, and painters, all working to create an environment of refined luxury. By focusing on the making and social context of this drawing, we can appreciate it as more than just a pretty picture. It’s a window into a world of skilled labor and consumer aspiration.