Chair c. 1936

Curator: Ah, I love this study. Lillian Causey’s watercolor drawing, simply titled "Chair," made around 1936. It has a sort of quiet elegance. Editor: You're right, it does. My first thought was how fragile it looks, almost like a ghost of a chair. The watercolors are so delicate. Curator: Indeed, the transparency adds to that sense of ephemerality. For me, this work acts almost like a time capsule; an attempt at preserving the design details, like emblems on coats of arms, and the quaint houses along the back. Editor: These emblems remind me of the heraldic tradition, where objects symbolized a family's history, values, and aspirations. Here, on something as commonplace as a chair, they elevate the object with social memory. What does the house symbolize, though, I wonder? Lineage, aspiration, a connection to the land? Curator: Perhaps. And look closely, it’s not just a drawing *of* a chair, but a design *for* a chair. It's as though she is mapping out possibilities, a testament to functional beauty and social history as much as an exploration in watercolour. The spare decoration hints at restraint. What did seating mean in that period? Editor: Perhaps an invitation. Or maybe something a little colder - thrones of power? But seeing it's just a humble sketch on paper, there is a very nice human touch. The light, and shadows bring in a playful dynamic. Curator: Precisely! The playful elements prevent it from becoming too severe. I think there's a really intriguing tension in those delicate washes and the solid presence of the design, one hinting at both tradition and the embrace of change. Editor: So, it looks like the chair is more than a seat - an illustration where symbolic languages rest to evoke home, lineage, history, and invitation. Curator: Yes, I think, even on the surface a simple chair, Causey imbues it with personal expression that transcends mere functionality. Editor: A functional artifact indeed!