Design for a decorated door 1830 - 1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise created this design for a decorated door. Born in France in 1897, Lachaise lived during a period of significant social and political upheaval. His design seems to draw on both historical artistic traditions and the societal position of women. The artwork portrays women in a manner which reflects the conventional artistic representations of the time. The woman in the panel has a certain lightness and appears to be dancing, but she is also confined within the door's frame, and her pose, while seemingly joyful, can also be seen as performative, as if she is dancing for someone's enjoyment. The door itself, a threshold, can represent an entry into new possibilities. As a result, it brings up issues of freedom, gender roles, and the contrast between societal expectations and women's self-expression. It encourages us to consider both the decorative function of the door and its symbolic value.