Visualizing the Nineteenth-Century Home

This book explores the evolution of interior spaces in the nineteenth century, emphasizing the significance of decorative arts and their role in modern artistic expression.

The nineteenth century marked a significant transformation in the realm of interior spaces, transitioning art from the grand ceilings and walls of aristocratic settings to the more intimate environments of bourgeois households. This shift was characterized by an increase in ornamentation that reflected the tastes and values of the middle class. Following the 1863 Salon des Refusés, the French government began directing lesser-known painters towards the decorative arts, while England initiated comprehensive reforms in this field, leading to a growing number of artists involved in the design of complete interiors. The United States soon followed suit, embracing these developments in its own artistic practices.

Despite these changes, contemporary art historical scholarship often overlooks the significance of decorative arts within the myriad interior spaces of the 1800s. The prevailing modernist narrative tends to equate cultural progress with the removal of ornamentation from both functional objects and architectural forms. This perspective has largely ignored the critical role that interiors played in shaping life and thought during the nineteenth century. Visualizing the Nineteenth-Century Home seeks to fill this gap by offering a collection of essays that explore the modern interior through an interdisciplinary lens.

Targeted at a diverse audience, including art and design historians, interior designers, and scholars of material culture, this volume investigates the dual nature of the modern interior as both a physical space and a visual image. By examining the interplay between arts and crafts, decoration, and high art, it challenges traditional boundaries and redefines the modern interior and its objects as vital elements of modern artistic expression.