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Decorative artist and art lover. Drawings for interior decorative works

From February 12th to May 04th, 2008 -
Musée d'Orsay
Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
75007 Paris
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Marcel Kammerer-Grand hôtel Wiesler à Graz (Autriche), salle des fêtes
Marcel Kammerer
Grand hôtel Wiesler à Graz (Autriche), salle des fêtes, en 1909
Musée d'Orsay
© Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt
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The 20th century has elevated the interior designer, a personality who orchestrates the interior design and renovation of exclusive residences, to almost iconic status. Although very much a feature of life nowadays, this activity began in the 19th century, with enthusiastic, independent and original ideas from people like Eugène Lami, Antoine Zoegger and Jules Allard. At that time, the decorative artist competed with the architect who still however remained in control of the interior decoration.

After creative designers like Percier and Fontaine, whose collaboration produced the neo-classical Empire style, interior decoration became an issue of great importance. The layout of the rooms, choice of colours, position of furniture and display of objets d’art were the finishing touches in the search for social recognition and confirmation of good taste in the eyes of the European elite.

At the end of the 19th century, the avant-garde movements emphasised the fundamental role of interior decoration, as a basis for renewing the environment. From Félix Duban to Henry Van de Velde, Antoine Zoegger to George Niedecken, drawings for interior decorations, far from being incidental, made a strong contribution to the history of taste.

The exhibition is now over.

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