Highboy c. 1940

Editor: So, this is a drawing called "Highboy" made around 1940 by Isadore Goldberg. It's watercolor and pencil on, it seems, paper, depicting a very elaborate wooden chest of drawers. I’m struck by the level of detail – it feels like a celebration of craftsmanship. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s interesting how a seemingly utilitarian object, like this highboy, can become so laden with symbolic meaning through its ornamentation. Consider the finial at the very top. What does a bust atop a chest evoke for you? Editor: I guess a sense of...authority? Maybe even the idea of guarding the contents? Curator: Precisely. This elevation to ‘guardianship’ reflects a shift from pure functionality toward social display. It shows what the owner values – wealth, status, perhaps even knowledge. The material, too. Does the wood remind you of something else? Perhaps Mahogany. Do the drawer pulls remind you of something in this era? Editor: Right, that deep reddish-brown suggests quality and, thinking about it, a type of door hardware you might find in someone's home at the time. Curator: The artist gives us information that invites us to look deeply and appreciate objects and cultural artifacts. These material symbols were especially relevant around 1940, offering an escape, a visual reminder of luxury. Editor: So, it's more than just a drawing of furniture. It’s communicating status, history, and maybe even aspirations, embedded within everyday life. Curator: Yes, and how our own values get reflected in those choices. What seems simple is layered with meaning, ripe for interpretation. Editor: I'll never look at furniture the same way again! Thanks for shedding light on all the symbolic weight it carries.