Chest Design 1935 - 1942

Etna Wiswall made this 'Chest Design' sometime between 1870 and 1915 using watercolor, graphite, and possibly some pen and ink. Can you imagine Wiswall at work, maybe humming to herself, carefully layering those earthy pinks and blues? The design is so orderly. The flowers and spirals create an elegant frame, enclosing little scenes of daily life. There's a horse prancing, a church standing tall. I wonder if she was thinking about storytelling. Each carefully placed detail builds a narrative, an atmosphere. Notice how she varies the color intensity to build up the rhythm of the scene. Maybe Wiswall was influenced by folk art traditions? It reminds me a little bit of Henri Rousseau with its flat forms and decorative elements. It’s like the design is whispering to us about home, history, and the pleasure of making something beautiful by hand.