Sofa c. 1936

This sofa design was rendered in pencil on paper by Edith Magnette. It's not a traditional art material like oil paint or bronze, but a working document. What it lacks in surface appeal, it gains in social transparency. The pencil lines show us the intended shape of the sofa, with precise measurements indicating a careful consideration of form and function. The dimensions scrawled on the page reveal an attention to detail, a sensitivity to the body that will eventually occupy this space. We can imagine the artisan, perhaps in a bustling workshop, hunched over the drawing table, translating ideas into tangible form. Every curve and line represents hours of skilled labor, transforming raw materials into functional comfort. This drawing serves as a reminder of the social and economic systems that underpin design and production, blurring the lines between art, craft, and the everyday object.