Hitchcock Chair 1935 - 1942

Curator: Here we have "Hitchcock Chair," a piece made with watercolor and coloured pencil, dating from around 1935 to 1942, by Cushman Parker. Editor: It immediately evokes a feeling of domesticity and careful craftsmanship. The muted tones and realistic depiction give it a timeless quality. Curator: Exactly. The medium chosen really speaks to the nature of the subject: an everyday functional object made artful. Considering its place in the midst of The Great Depression, a chair would not be just a chair. What do you think? Editor: The fruits depicted in the upper panel have associations with abundance, with earthly paradise, of being home again after lean years. The artist might want the viewer to associate a simple object as this one to feelings of wellbeing and being nurtured. Curator: That's a strong interpretation, especially with what we know about how it was crafted. The technique of watercolor and coloured pencil could be very economic for such a detailed image; It's both pragmatic and expressive, highlighting the inherent value in resourceful artistry during times of scarcity. Editor: Perhaps. I think there may be something deeper too, beyond the pragmatic choices, something that is more permanent in a symbolic way. You see how everything appears balanced and poised? The chair might symbolize family heritage and belonging. Curator: Indeed. Parker chose a subject very telling for its utility. Perhaps this specific type of chair and method speaks not only of the object as is but also of a yearning to find creativity amidst the scarcity in that time period. It shows how meaning is embedded in the production itself, echoing the labor that goes into both the making of furniture and the creation of art. Editor: Thinking about it more, maybe that's why this representation resonates with a universal feeling. Beyond the practical and economical considerations, it speaks to the importance of history and stability. Curator: Agreed. It shows how intertwined social circumstances, artistry, and meaning could be. It leaves one thinking about all the hands that touched a common item. Editor: And ultimately how symbols, when skillfully used, create memories and connection across time.