Art and design often intertwine in multiple ways; the formalist approach of design prioritizes aesthetic form, emphasizing the appearance of the product. Inversely, art, as a reflection of the world around us, incorporates design elements to create compositions or convey messages about our environment.

The subject of this entry, sofas, has been the subject of representation in art for centuries. Sofas, which serve as decor, have appeared in works by artists ranging from Canova and Sorolla to Dalí and Francis Bacon, forming an intriguing connection between the representation of sofas and the art history.

Sofas, which serve as decor, have appeared in works by artists ranging from Canova and Sorolla to Dalí and Francis Bacon, forming an intriguing connection between the representation of sofas and the art history

First of all, it is necessary to mention the Italian neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova (Possagno, 1757 - Venice, 1922), famous for his magnificent and delicate technique. Canova's works, such as "Venus Victrix," depict figures like Pauline Borghese as the Greek divine gods. As a classicist artist, Canova worked for the French emperor Napoleon, sculpting portraits of his family to cultivate a classicist image for the Napoleonic empire.

Canova's works, such as "Venus Victrix," depict figures like Pauline Borghese as the Greek divine god.

The Spanish romantic painter Joaquín Sorolla (Valencia, 1863 - Cercedilla, 1923) deserves a mention for his mastery of light control and expressiveness of brushstroke. Sorolla not only captured beach landscapes, but also was an outstanding portrait painter, depicting the high society of his time in works such as "Clotilde Seated on a Sofa". This portrait of his wife features vibrant colors and powerful brushstrokes that draw attention to the figure against a subtly rendered background.

Sorolla not only captured beach landscapes, but also was an outstanding portrait painter, depicting the high society of his time in works such as "Clotilde Seated on a Sofa"

Ángeles Santos (Portbou, 1911 - Madrid, 2013), a Spanish figurative and surrealist painter, depicted a common scene in her work "Tertulia", in which four women engage in conversation. Although seemingly mundane, this painting offers insight into Spanish society and empowers women as modern, freed individuals.

Ángeles Santos, a Spanish figurative and surrealist painter, depicted a common scene in her work "Tertulia", in which four women engage in conversation

Another noteworthy artwork featuring a sofa is Salvador Dalí's (Figueres, 1904 - Figueres, 1989) "Portrait of Mae West," in which he created an illusion of Mae West's face using furniture, with the sofa representing her lips. This innovative use of everyday objects as art pieces highlights Dalí's surrealist vision and blurs the boundaries between functional furniture and artistic expression.

Another noteworthy artwork featuring a sofa is Salvador Dalí's "Portrait of Mae West," in which he created an illusion of Mae West's face using furniture, with the sofa representing her lips.

René Magritte (Lessines, Belgium 1898 - Schaarbeek, 1967) also paid special homage to sofas with his work "Perspective: Madame Récamier by David," a reinterpretation of the original painting "Madame Récamier" by French artist Jacques-Louis David. In this series, Magritte transformed classic portraits by replacing the figures with coffins.

In this series, Magritte transformed classic portraits by replacing the figures with coffins.

The English painter Lucian Freud (Berlin, 1922 - London 2011), known for his masterful style and ability to capture the essence of the human body, also depicted sofas in his works. In his early work "The Painter's Room", influenced by surrealism and naïf style, Freud depicted a room with a sofa in the center. This painting is characterized by the surreal aspect of a giraffe coming out of the window. From his last period, it is worth mentioning the work "Great interior, Notting Hill", where the figure of his assistant is portrayed in the absence of the model.

The English painter Lucian Freud, known for his masterful style and ability to capture the essence of the human body, also depicted sofas in his works. In his early work "The Painter's Room", influenced by surrealism and naïf style, Freud depicted a room with a sofa in the center.

The Nigerian artist Wahab Saheed (b. Lagos, Nigeria 1998), with his work entitled "In a Calm Place, Bright as Sun," is another artist worth highlighting. His works, which explore the identity of black people, feature quick, crisp gestural marks. Saheed employs a mixed technique, using charcoal to depict the skin of the characters, which enhances expressiveness, while using colored pastels and acrylics to accentuate the contrast between the figures and the background. The work was on display in the group exhibition "The power of color" at VILLAZAN from October 17, 2023 to January 12, 2024.

Wahab Saheed's works, which explore the identity of black people, feature quick, crisp gestural marks.

Finally, the young Malaga-born artist Pedro Hoz (b. 2000) creates fantastic scenes that blend surrealism with personal experiences and imagination. His works, such as "Misscomfusing image of a couple that just felt in love" feature sofas as central elements, which contribute to the general narrative of the scene. This work was part of Pedro Hoz's exhibition at VLAB gallery in Madrid entitled "El antropomorfos en sus contextos y variantes", which was on view from October 5th to October 14th, 2023.

His works, such as "Misscomfusing image of a couple that just felt in love" feature sofas as central elements, which contribute to the general narrative of the scene.

In conclusion, sofas have played diverse roles in art, serving as symbols, props and even subjects. Through the works of various artists from different periods and styles, sofas have become integral components of artistic expression, enriching the visual landscape with their presence.