Window Alcove 1935 - 1942

Curator: Alright, let's talk about "Window Alcove," a mixed-media piece, mostly watercolor, created by Perkins Harnly sometime between 1935 and 1942. Editor: It’s certainly a detailed scene! It feels a bit like stepping back in time, a parlor perhaps, but the mood is... slightly unsettling. Almost like a stage set, everything meticulously placed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: You know, I feel that "stage set" vibe too. It’s all so… deliberately composed. The elaborate architectural details, the ornamentation – the chandelier, the peacock statue, and through the window the white turrets in the background. They're all these meticulously rendered objects, but it feels more like Harnly’s constructing a memory, or even a fantasy. A memory probably, he lived in Alexandria after all, so memories of fancy homes may have been vivid. I see a yearning for a grander era, but tinged with the understanding that it’s just beyond reach. The inclusion of a Miss Liberty figurine feels like more than mere decoration—what do you think? Editor: I can definitely see the yearning now! The miniature Statue of Liberty amidst this opulence is striking. It adds an interesting layer, maybe a bit of patriotism mixed with nostalgia? And that very ornate staircase post. How much time did it take him to draw it? Curator: Right? It speaks to a complex relationship with American identity and aspirations, doesn't it? There's the almost comical juxtaposition of elements: classical elegance, yet frozen and stilled, under glass. The colors too are restrained: pale turquoise, golds, shades of pink. What do you think he wants us to *feel* as we stand here looking at it? Editor: I think he wants to make sure the viewer sees those colours as luxurious instead of simply decorative or historical. They are subtle and tasteful enough, not over-the-top gaudy at all. Harnly used color as an anchor to create the desired atmosphere, wouldn’t you agree? I find this work fascinating. Curator: Yes, a restrained sort of maximalism! It makes the wheels of my imagination start spinning, anyway, seeing the world and this artist in a new light!