Small Rush Bottom Chair c. 1936

Edith Magnette made this rendering of a simple rush bottom chair. Born in 1855, Magnette lived through an era where traditional roles for women were being challenged, yet societal expectations often confined women to domestic spheres. The choice of subject matter, a humble chair, reflects the intersection of gender and class in art. During Magnette's time, women artists often focused on domestic scenes or still life, seen as appropriate subjects for their artistic pursuits. The chair, an everyday object, carries the weight of unseen labor – the hands that crafted it, the bodies that rest upon it. Magnette's detailed rendering invites us to consider the stories embedded in the mundane, offering a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those who occupied these spaces. It serves as a reminder of the value in honoring the ordinary.