Wall Paper c. 1937

John Garay created this wallpaper design of undetermined date using opaque watercolor and graphite on paper. At first glance, it looks like a rather innocuous design. However, when viewed through a socio-historical lens, it opens up a broader discussion about class and social aspiration. Garay was employed as a designer for a wallpaper company. During the late 19th century, improvements in printing technology made wallpaper affordable for the middle classes. Suddenly, they could aspire to the lifestyles of the wealthy, who had previously been the only people who could afford decorative wall coverings. This design, with its classical motifs and pastoral scenes, evokes the kind of aristocratic luxury that middle-class homeowners may have wished to emulate. Studying manufacturers' catalogs and pattern books from the period can offer valuable insights into the social and cultural aspirations of the time. This helps us to understand how the mass production of art and design has shaped society.