Corner Cupboard c. 1939

Editor: This watercolor and ink drawing is called *Corner Cupboard*, made around 1939 by Ernest A. Towers, Jr. It seems like a straightforward depiction of a piece of furniture. What historical context can you provide for an artwork like this? Curator: The work immediately calls to mind the Federal Art Project, a Depression-era program under the WPA. Such projects aimed to provide employment for artists, and more subtly, to reinforce national identity. How might depicting this *Corner Cupboard* be a part of that project? Editor: It looks like Early American furniture – a deliberate embrace of colonial roots? Is it about visually connecting to an idealised past? Curator: Exactly. There was a move away from European influence, searching for authenticity in American craftsmanship and simpler times. Who would be displaying this drawing and what function could this representation of a humble furniture hold in their homes? Editor: Perhaps celebrating self-reliance? It’s fascinating how a seemingly simple object can hold such complex cultural meaning. Do you think this resonates today? Curator: Certainly. We still see furniture as symbols of social status, and the revival of traditional styles can be interpreted as nostalgia for simpler values. Also, such representation brings this particular culture closer to diverse population through representation, allowing an audience lacking the capital or resources for actual fine art ownership to contemplate that cultural expression within arm’s reach. Editor: I never considered that! Thinking about who this work serves makes so much sense. I see this drawing so differently now! Curator: And that's precisely how understanding historical and social contexts can enhance our appreciation of art.