BOURNAZEL, Diane de. ~ Chambre à air. [Marliac, 2022].
c. 150 × 150 mm, six panels with circular cut windows/panels, joined concertina-style with paper panels, with decorative paper, illumination in ink and watercolour and collage. In a paper case.
One of Diane de Bournazel’s magical optical ‘peepshows’ with a window opening onto a mysterious three-dimensional scene within. It features some of the distinctive features of the artist’s much-admired artist’s books, but makes use of the peepshow form to bring added depth and perspective to her enchanted world. The paper peepshow was popularised by publishers such as Martin Engelbrecht in Munich from the middle of the eighteenth century, evidently inspired by baroque stage sets, but reached the peak of their elaboration in the Victorian era. They were either sold as toys or souvenirs or, in expanded form, were popular fairground attractions. Each of Diane de Bournazel’s peepshows is a unique creation.