Twee vensters met gordijnen 1885 - 1895

This print by Léon Laroche features two window designs, likely produced as inspiration for interior decorators. Though seemingly ephemeral, curtain design was a serious matter, requiring collaboration between designers, upholsterers, and seamstresses, all highly skilled in their trades. Consider the amount of labor embedded in these elaborate draperies: the weaving of the fabric, the cutting and sewing of the components, the pleating, the swags, the tassels. Each element involves a careful hand and an understanding of material behavior. Note the contrast between the heavy, light-blocking fabrics and the sheer lace, each with its own set of textural and visual properties. Such materials would have been costly, available only to the upper classes, and they would have served a practical purpose while signaling elite status. While we often think of art as being distinct from the world of labor and commerce, this print reminds us that even the most functional designs carry cultural and social meaning.