Sofa 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have William Mills' "Sofa," likely created between 1935 and 1942, a watercolor and drawing. I'm struck by how delicate the floral and bird pattern seems. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider this piece through the lens of materials and labor. We see a watercolor depiction of a sofa, seemingly innocuous. But consider the social context: During this period, mass production of furniture was changing the landscape of both industry and the home. Editor: So, you're saying the choice to depict this in watercolor is significant? Curator: Exactly. Watercolor, traditionally associated with craft and domesticity, elevates a mass-produced item, imbuing it with a handmade quality. What does that tension between handcraft and industry suggest about societal values at the time? This isn't just a sofa, it’s a study in materials! Editor: It's interesting that the medium itself could comment on the rise of mass production, suggesting perhaps a nostalgia for handmade items. The floral print now also seems like a direct reference to domestic crafts like embroidery. Curator: Precisely. And let's look closely at the execution. Note how the details aren't photorealistic. It feels almost like an advertisement or perhaps the plans to create that same kind of sofa in factories. Consider too the labour of artisans involved in creating that textile pattern, versus the machine-made alternative. Which labour is valued? By Whom? Editor: It reframes the artwork – I came in seeing a simple furniture design, and now I’m seeing a commentary on labor, industry and domesticity. Thank you. Curator: Absolutely, thinking about production helps us to engage in conversations of class, of the machine and of the worker!