Chair 1935 - 1942

Curator: This is Francis Law Durand’s "Chair," dated between 1935 and 1942, rendered meticulously in pencil and other drawing media. It is quite striking as it depicts the plan for an object. Editor: It’s more like a technical drawing or a blueprint than a finished artwork, isn't it? What’s so special about the making of a chair? Curator: Precisely. This work compels us to think about the act of creation, not just the finished product. Durand, with a delicate hand, documented the planning and execution of something functional. We must question why this process is important as something to observe and potentially possess. The meticulous labelling, the measured dimensions – how do these choices reveal an attitude towards labor and materiality? Editor: I see… so it's less about admiring the final chair and more about considering the process, almost like appreciating the labor involved? Did the Shakers’ commitment to simple design and quality craftsmanship influence how the object was produced and viewed? Curator: Exactly. This detailed drawing highlights that relationship. The Shakers are well-known for their ideals on craftmanship that blended utility and spiritual intention. This drawing emphasizes this philosophy. Think of it as elevating the mundane. It shifts the value from pure aesthetics to encompassing the ethics of production and design. Editor: That makes sense. So it challenges the separation of art from craft. I never considered design and art so interconnected before. Curator: This piece dissolves the hierarchy, inviting us to ponder the cultural and social value we assign to both. Is this an architectural drawing or a commentary of industrial craft and mass production? Editor: I will have to think about that some more. It makes me consider the intention behind art and everyday design. Thank you.