Arm Chair 1941

Curator: Look closely at this drawing titled "Arm Chair" by Hal Blakeley, created in 1941. The artist employed both watercolor and drawing techniques. What’s your immediate reaction? Editor: Stark simplicity. A feeling of solid, dependable weight. The muted brown tones—the way the texture is evoked in the seat and back—all contribute to this sense of groundedness. There is some ornate element, however, in its lower crossbeam. Curator: Ornate but still rather minimal, don't you think? I'm drawn to the chair as an object in general— it symbolizes a place of rest, of contemplation. Notice the details in Blakeley's depiction – the meticulously rendered studs bordering the leather, those bowed embellishments across the cross beam and foot of the chair. What stories might this object have witnessed, if it could speak? What gatherings, what quiet moments of reflection? Editor: Those bows introduce an interesting dynamic, really. You’re right, they hint at some craft of creation; something beyond utility. If we think about formalism, that lower frieze has a sort of echoing rhythm—it emphasizes the horizontality of the whole structure. I find that, as it interrupts what is otherwise mostly strict linearity in this otherwise simple constructivist approach, our focus stays right in this area, the intersection between art and artisanship. Curator: Yes! It seems a point of pride and craft. Chairs in particular occupy such a central position in domestic and even ceremonial settings, throughout history. They're imbued with the power dynamics and social interactions, carrying visual signals for any seated gathering. We could wonder: what sort of individual or family might possess an armchair like this in the early 1940s? Editor: Fascinating. If this artwork was by Blakeley, then perhaps the subject of the artwork provides its own answer, by alluding to that very same creator. Curator: Indeed! Seeing "Arm Chair" from Blakeley, this exercise gives insight to the object and also allows to peek in its time capsule. Thanks for your perspective! Editor: My pleasure; likewise, exploring this study from Blakeley with you was very insightful!