Dresser c. 1937

Gordena Jackson rendered this dresser in watercolor, a testament to an object's enduring allure. Consider the mirror framed by ornate, gilded carvings: it is more than mere reflection. Mirrors have long been associated with introspection and vanity, appearing as early as ancient Greek mythology with Narcissus. The acanthus leaf motifs adorning the dresser's corners and drawer pulls, derived from classical antiquity, speak to a revival of these forms during the Renaissance. It represents endurance and immortality, reminiscent of the same motifs found in Roman temples. Such adornments are not mere decoration; they are echoes of a cultural memory, subconsciously evoking feelings of elegance and permanence. We see this motif across time, from the Roman Empire to the Neoclassical architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries, and here it resurfaces once more, a perpetual dance of form and meaning.