Night cypresses on a blue background - Samarkand, oriental motifs by Émile-Allain Séguy

Reproduction of plate No. 2 Night cypresses on a blue background taken from Samarkand , a collection of compositions in the oriental style made with stencils by Émile-Allain Séguy in 1920

Plate 2 from Émile-Allain Séguy's *Samarkande* collection features a stylized plant composition inspired by Oriental art and the Art Deco decorative vocabulary. Against a textured blue-gray background, trees with sinuous branches rise, adorned with delicate lavender-colored flower buds. These trees, likely almond or cherry trees in bloom, contrast with the imposing verticality of the dark cypress trees in the background, whose tapered crowns recall Persian or Ottoman landscapes. Tufts of greenery dotted with green polka dots punctuate the base of the trunks, adding relief and a refined ornamental effect. This composition, characterized by graphic elegance and a sophisticated color palette, illustrates Séguy's attraction to naturalistic motifs reinterpreted in a decorative spirit. It evokes both the luxuriance of Oriental gardens and the modernity of early 20th-century decorative arts.

Émile-Allain Séguy (1877–1951) was a French artist and designer who influenced the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. He is best known for his portfolios of decorative motifs, particularly published in the 1920s, which had a considerable influence on the decorative arts of his time.