Decorative Panel from Rail Car Interior c. 1936

This decorative panel for a rail car interior was designed by Wellington Blewett. Look at the way the pink-red hue of the ornate decorations contrast with the pale yellow vertical lines that create a subtle sense of depth. The panel is a study in contrasts, right? The precision of the floral pattern against the grain of the wood. Blewett emphasizes the physical qualities of the wood in a way that complicates the symmetry of the flowers, leaves, and vases. The palette is mostly muted, yet the composition fizzes with energy and a certain decorative flair. Notice how the twin vases of flowers are not quite mirrored, the placement of the leaves and blooms adjusted for an informal effect. It makes the whole thing feel lively. Thinking about the mix of formal and informal, I’m reminded of the work of someone like, I don't know, Christopher Dresser, who advocated for combining industry and nature in design. Blewett invites us to consider how different ways of seeing and experiencing the world can coexist.