Design for Wall Elevation, Hôtel Candamo 1873

Editor: This is "Design for Wall Elevation, Hôtel Candamo," created in 1873 by Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise, using pencil, watercolor, tempera and print. The precision is so impressive! The neoclassical elements are clear, yet I'm drawn to the question of its purpose. What story does this design tell about the society and materials that birthed it? Curator: That’s a great question! For me, this drawing illuminates the social and economic relationships embedded in 19th-century French design. It is more than a simple aesthetic exercise; it signifies the material aspirations of a rising bourgeoisie eager to showcase its wealth and power. Consider the means necessary to produce a design like this, from the mining of the pigments used in the watercolor and tempera to the labour involved in printing and drafting it. Where do those materials originate, and who's providing that labor? Editor: So, you're highlighting the entire production chain hidden within the design itself. I hadn't thought of it that way. Is the choice of neoclassical style also a factor? Curator: Absolutely. Neoclassicism here is a deliberate reference to the perceived order and rationality of the past, which the aspiring classes wish to imbue within their own rapidly industrializing era. They wanted to elevate their status, legitimize it, using design as a statement. This wasn't just about filling space; it was about using consumption to produce a new class identity. Who benefits from constructing walls that declare and reflect one's societal status? Editor: So it's not just a design; it's a document that tells of resources and the cultural ambition of that era. Thank you for illuminating these ideas; I see a much richer complexity in this drawing now. Curator: Indeed. Thinking about art as material and social product deepens our view. Always ask who benefits from that design; who gains access and is able to reflect and elevate their societal standing?