Design for a Bookcabinet and Two Pedestals (Verso: sketch) 1800 - 1850

This is an anonymous design for a bookcabinet and two pedestals on a sheet of paper dating back to an unknown period. The bookcase, filled with colorful books, becomes a silent monument to knowledge and privilege. Who had access to these books and the literacy they represented? We need to remember that literacy has historically been tied to power, often excluding women, people of color, and the working class. Notice the pedestals flanking the cabinet, they are like sentinels guarding access to enlightenment. The design prompts us to consider the spaces in which knowledge is kept, and how this reflects power dynamics in society. Are these spaces welcoming or intimidating? Whose stories are amplified and whose are silenced?