Doorway and Doors 1935 - 1942

Albert Pratt made this drawing, "Doorway and Doors," using graphite and watercolor. Pratt’s long life, spanning from 1855 to 1995, positions him as a witness to enormous societal change. The depiction of a weathered doorway, adorned with skull and crossbones motifs, evokes the weight of history and mortality. Pratt made the original object 72 inches wide and 81 inches high. What was Pratt trying to say about scale here? The skulls are a stark reminder of the lives lost and the histories that have shaped the space. Pratt perhaps questions traditional narratives of progress, subtly reminding us of the past's enduring presence. This doorway could be seen as a metaphor, inviting reflection on what we choose to remember and what we leave behind. The architectural details, rendered with care, suggest a reverence for place. It prompts us to consider our own relationship with history. How do we navigate the thresholds of memory and legacy?