Desk c. 1937

Winslow Rich made this watercolor and graphite drawing of a desk sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, capturing not just a piece of furniture, but a symbol of domesticity and social order. The desk, with its neat compartments and organized drawers, speaks to a culture that values order and privacy. It's a place for correspondence, record-keeping, and the management of personal affairs, reflecting the rise of a bureaucratic society in America. The design aesthetic evokes the Arts and Crafts movement. As art historians, we look beyond the surface to understand the values and power structures embedded in such an image. Trade catalogs and design manuals from the period can provide insights into the social meanings of furniture like this, revealing how ideas about class, gender, and domesticity were shaped and reinforced through material culture.