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    Corb!

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    2K views15 pages

    Le Corbusier, The Decorative Art of Today

    Uploaded by

    John Leano
    Corb!

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 15
    % 1925 decoration, whist making due apology for what simply bana, initferen, ‘or void of artistic intention, to invite the eye andthe spirit otk pleasure the company’ of such things and perhaps to rebel against the Nourish, th ‘ai, the distracting din of colours and ornaments, to dismiss a Whole mas, Of arefucts, some of which ae not without merit to pass over an activi that has sometimes been disinterested, sometimes idealistic, 0 ddan thy ‘work of so many schools so many masters, somany pupil, and think thas ‘ofthem: they areas disagreeable as mosquitos a thenee tative at hg Impasse: moder decorative aris nor decorated. Have we not the right) ‘A moments thought wil confi i. The paradox les aot neat, tg the wards, Why do the objects that concern ushere have tobe called decor five arf This the paradox: why should chairs, Botes, baskets, sho, ‘which ae all objects of utility al toot, be elled decorate ar” The pa {ox of making st out of took Le'sbe ar. Imean, the paradox of making, ‘decorative ar out of tools Ta make at out of ool far eno we hold with Latouss's definition, which isthat ARTs the application of knowledge {othe realisation ofan de, Then yes. Wear indeed committed to apply all ‘our knowdge tothe perfect ration of tol: know-how, ski effiieney, ‘economy, pression, the sum of Knowledge. A ood to}, an excellent oo, the very best tol. Thisisthe world of mance, of industry; Weare look: ing fora tandard and our concerns ae fa from the personal, the arbitrary, Veto Spor DECORATIVE ART % the fantasti, the eect ‘ypeobiect. PS the paradox certainly les the terminology. But we ae to hat dcoration ls necessiry fo our exten, Let ws conc that: arts ncesay ts tat ito ay, sintered pain tht txts us. Decoration: baubles, charming entertainment for asavage (And Soot deny thattisanexcellenthingtokeepanclementofthesavagealve Saas smal one.) But in the twentieth comiry cur powers of judgement have develope greatly and we bave raised ou level of consciousaess. Our ‘prtual needs ate different, and higher worlds than those of decoration titers commensurate expecence. It cems jst Yo a the more fulinated people Becomes, th more decoration disappears. (Sul it was Loos who pt itso neatly.) So, tose things clearly, its sffcent to scparte the stsiction of singers emotion rom hat of attain need. Uri neds cal foe tbs brought in every epet to tat degree of erection seen in indy. Ths then is the magnet programme Tor decorative at (edly, ay inappropriate term!) ur interests inthe nogm, and we are erating eouetiosty cs re eden, dh ress ‘thcmmaaietd heword Kans htt ‘lrg phn oe sped a « 1925 Tprovoke elevated sensations isthe prerogative of proportion, Which {sa sensed mathemati; i afforded most particularly by architecture, Painting, und sculpture ~ works of no immediate utility, disinterested, fnceptonal, work that ave plastic creations invested With pasion, the ‘Upt ing oh Fst Nason Company, Det passion of man - the manifold drama that arts, jls us, Ouse ws, ‘moves us? Now and always there is a hierarchy. There atime for work ‘when one uss onesel up, and alsoa time for meditation, whenone recovers ‘one’s bearing and redcovers harmony. There should be no confusion between them: we are no longer in the age ofthe dilettante but at an hour ‘that shuts and epic, serious and violent, pressured and productive ere and economic, Everything hs is clasifiation; work and meditation. “The clases ton have thitcisifation:thoxe who struggle for thei «xustof bread hae the simple ideal ofa decet loging (andthe love rose the fancies furniture, Henry TT or Louis XV, which ves them the fesing of 1 Artec te DECORATIVE ART » ath ~anlementary ideal). And those well-enough endowed to have the ‘pty andthe dtyto think (and they aspire to the wisdom of Diogenes. Provously, decorative objects were rate and costly. Today they are commonplace and cheap, Previously, pain objects were commonplace and the today they are rare and expensive, Previously, decorative objects Were ilems for special display: the pate whch dhe peasant family hung on the wall and the embroidered waisteoat for holidays; eis forthe propa ‘ands of princes. Today decorative objets food the shelves ofthe Depart- ment tore; they sell cheaply to shop-its Hf they sell cheaply, itis because they are badly made and Because decoration hides faults in thee manutae- ture and the poor quality oftheir materias: decoration is disguise It pays ‘the manufatutr toemply'a decoatorto disguise he aulsin his produets, to conceal the poor quality of thei materials and to dstratthe eye fom ‘hei blemishes by ofering it the spiced morsels of glowing goldplate and Strident symphonies. Trash is always abundantly decorated; the luxury objet is well made, neat and clean, pure and healthy, and is bareness ‘evealsthe“qalty of its manufacture. I is to industry that we owe this » DECORATIVE ART ® ers inthe slate of afis: cast-iron stove overowing with decoration ‘tes than a plain one midst tho sirging leat pater asi he cast Spgcannot be seen. And the same applies generally, Take some pai calico ‘Meso tin colour; the printing machine wil stanly cover sin the most fBshionabl pattems (for example, copies of Spanish mails, Bulgarian ‘Gnbroidery, Persian sls, et.) and without incuringmichexpenseone can double the sale price. quite agre that itcan be as charming, as gay, and as sShopit-like s you could want, and I would want that continue. What ‘ould spring be without! But this surtace elaboration, ifextended without discernment over absolutely everything, becomes repugnant and Sean lous; it smells of pretence, and the sity gaety of the shop in her Alowerpattemed eretonne dress, becomes rank comuption when sur rounded by Renaissance stoves, Turkish smoking tables, Japan "umbrellas, chamber pots and bides from Lange or Rowen, Bicharaper- fumes, bordello lampshades, pumpkin cushions, divans spread with gold 'nd sive ay black velvos fasted Hike the Grand Turk, res with baskets offlowers and ising doves, linoleum printed with Louis XVI ribbons. The “the gung principle of decorators with serousintentions sto cate for enjoyment oflfebyasophisicatedcintcle. Asa result of fashions, the Um feation of books, andthe assiduous efor of a wiole generation of ators, this clientele has sen i tases sharply awakened to matters pected withart Today there salivelyaesteticawareness anda taste for

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