Young Designers Reclaim the Classical
In recent interior design projects, a clear trend is emerging: the return of classical figurative codes in the selection of artworks. Long overshadowed by abstraction, conceptualism, or minimalism, this visual language, rooted in realistic representation, skilled drawing, proportional accuracy, and visual storytelling, is making a discreet yet confident comeback in contemporary interiors.
Antique engravings, genre scenes, reimagined portraits, representations of the human form, or stylized floral compositions are finding their way into the projects of young designers. This revival is not driven by nostalgia, but by a contemporary way of inhabiting history, of engaging with it creatively.
Moving Beyond Minimalism
Amidst the uniformity of all-white aesthetics, visual neutrality, and disembodied art, a new desire is surfacing: to show without overwhelming. Figurative aesthetics offer a middle path between silence and expressiveness. The selected artworks are precise, rich in detail and references. They introduce a narrative and emotional dimension to a space without disturbing its overall harmony.
Far from the spectacular, these images, often carefully framed and chosen for their graphic finesse, highlight the uniqueness of a space, like punctuation in a well-crafted sentence.
A New Relationship to Art Objects
The return of figurative art comes with a more personal curatorial gesture. It’s no longer just about pairing a piece with a space for visual impact, but about selecting works that carry a story, depth, and a distinct voice. Each artwork becomes a fragment of narrative, a quiet yet meaningful presence, capable of anchoring a space in imagination or memory.
This choice goes beyond aesthetics, it implies intention. Antique sculptures, rare drawings, unique pieces, or limited editions are selected with care, often in close collaboration with artists or galleries.
The relationship with the artwork emphasizes intimacy: appropriately scaled pieces, hung at eye level, and arranged as they might be in a lived-in home. The aim is not to impress, but to invite contemplation, a sensory experience.
Artworks are often chosen for their ability to converse with furniture or lighting, rather than dominate the space. This precise, almost domestic relationship transforms the presence of art in the interior, it’s less about display, and more about dwelling with the artwork.
A Contemporary Sensibility
In a world saturated with visual stimuli and fleeting content, the return of classical figuration can be read as a desire for grounding, clarity, and authenticity. It reflects a will to slow the gaze, to create a frame, to welcome into the personal space a form of visual permanence. Where fleeting trends prioritize impact or innovation at all costs, the figurative language offers a stable, embodied response.
This renewed appreciation for detail, line, and rigorous composition doesn’t signal conservatism, but a revaluation of mastery and transmission. Within this aesthetic lies a form of respect for traditional craftsmanship, skillfully articulated by contemporary designers with today’s codes.
Classical works are thus integrated into minimalist compositions, in dialogue with modern architectural lines, designer furniture, or raw materials. It’s this controlled contrast that animates their presence: they do not re-enact the past, but offer it a contemporary echo chamber.
Their narrative power is being rediscovered too: an old fashion drawing, an architectural plate, a stylized botanical study, all inscribe a story, a trace, a thread into the space. These are artworks that whisper rather than shout, and it is precisely this quality that captivates a generation of creators in search of discreet elegance.
This is not a step backwards, but a circular movement: a way of letting the forms of the past speak softly, within interiors that know how to listen.
