Shaker Rocking Chair c. 1936

Curator: I find this so calming! There's something deeply meditative about this chair. It's making me want to brew a cup of tea. Editor: This watercolor drawing, created by Alfred H. Smith around 1936, is entitled "Shaker Rocking Chair." It exemplifies a broader interest in depicting and preserving American design. Curator: Yes! And isn't it curious how he chose to spotlight something so... ordinary? Like elevating the everyday object. Is that intentional, do you think? Or just happened? Editor: I'd argue it's very deliberate. The Shakers, known for their functional and minimalist aesthetics, held specific cultural importance during that period. Highlighting a piece of their furniture can be seen as an endorsement of simplicity and utility during a period of social upheaval. The "cult of domesticity," as we call it, valued such practical design principles and promoted these values as core tenets. Curator: Right! Okay, I buy that, and also... I think I’d make this drawing ten times more interesting with a bright-red cushion. The seat weaving looks a bit tired in the watercolor... I do understand they prized usefulness, but what about something beyond bare necessity? Comfort and embellishment shouldn’t be afterthoughts. Editor: The image could definitely profit from such creative play. However, consider how the weaving of the seat itself conveys not only simple utility, but also quiet artistic labor! These very artistic decisions can offer unique historical insights. Curator: I agree with this on principle but I simply prefer plush chairs! Editor: Well, in terms of its social relevance and historic dimensions I'll admit I’ve gained an ever greater appreciation. Curator: And I appreciate how this is only going to continue this journey into aesthetic self-discovery!