Dining Room Table c. 1942

Ernest A. Towers, Jr. created this watercolour painting depicting a Dining Room Table. The central motif is the table itself, an object laden with cultural significance. Throughout history, the table has served as a site for communal meals, family gatherings, and important negotiations. In ancient Roman society, the dining table, or "triclinium," was a symbol of status and hospitality. This table design is a modest echo of those historic tables, and the central placement of this particular table in the composition elevates its importance, suggesting that it is a symbol of comfort and domestic stability. The table also bears a striking resemblance to an altar, and the communion of eating and drinking. We can see how the memory of these shared meals creates a powerful psychological bond, reinforcing collective identity and shared values. The design of this table is thus not a linear, but rather a cyclical progression, where memory, tradition, and emotion coalesce.