Corner Cupboard c. 1940

Henry Moran made this watercolor and graphite drawing of a corner cupboard, sometime in the 20th century. The original cupboard would have been crafted from timber, sawn from a tree, seasoned, planed and shaped using hand tools like chisels, saws, and hand planes. The cupboard’s dark wood, finished with a glossy varnish, shows off its carefully considered design: a robust base supporting a glazed cabinet, framed with moldings. The upper portion with glass window panes would have been constructed to exhibit decorative objects, while the lower portion might conceal more practical belongings. The process of cabinet-making, with its emphasis on precision and joinery, required significant woodworking skills, often passed down through generations. This drawing invites us to consider the labor and artistry embedded in the creation of domestic objects. Moran’s drawing prompts a question about the value of both artistic representation, and the functional craft it depicts, blurring the lines between art and design.