Basket, Table, Door, Window, Mirror, Rug #8 [verso] 1974

This drawing by Richard Artschwager, made in 1974, features an array of domestic symbols: a basket, table, door, window, mirror, and rug, all sketched with an airy, ethereal quality. These are potent symbols, each carrying layers of cultural and psychological weight. The door and window, for instance, represent thresholds, transitions between the interior and exterior worlds, echoing ancient Roman depictions of Janus, the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. Similarly, the mirror, a classic vanitas motif, reflects not just our image but also our mortality, a theme found in countless Renaissance paintings. Here, these everyday objects take on a dreamlike quality, inviting us to consider their deeper resonances within our shared cultural memory. They invite a sense of introspection, engaging the viewer on a subconscious level, prompting reflection on the transient nature of existence. The cycle continues.