Twee stoelen 1885 - 1895

Léon Laroche made this print, "Twee stoelen," depicting two chairs in the Louis XVI style. It's an illustration from "Le Garde-Meuble," a journal showcasing contemporary furniture designs. Published in France, a nation with a long and fraught relationship to monarchy, the print reflects a desire to revive pre-revolutionary aesthetics after periods of industrialization. The chair designs themselves are interesting as embodiments of power. Who gets to sit and relax, and in what style? Even in the late 19th century, these were potent symbols of the aristocracy. To truly understand this image, we'd want to look at the publishing history of "Le Garde-Meuble", its readership, and the social and political context that fueled the revival of interest in the Louis XVI style. Art historians look to archives, period publications, and other primary sources to better understand art’s historical meaning.