David Lewinsohn House, Chicago, Illinois, Dining Room Elevations and Details 1898

Here is Fritz Frederick L. Foltz's architectural drawing of the David Lewinsohn House dining room, crafted during a time of significant social and economic stratification in Chicago. This drawing offers a window into the domestic lives of the city’s elite, but it also speaks volumes about the labor and resources required to create such spaces. The elaborate details – from the fireplace to the built-in cabinetry – hint at the identities and aspirations of its inhabitants. The design reflects a desire for order, refinement, and the performance of social status at the turn of the century. Consider the historical context: Chicago was a city rapidly transforming, marked by both immense wealth and deep poverty, often divided along lines of class and ethnicity. Foltz’s design, with its emphasis on European-inspired aesthetics, stands as a testament to the cultural values of its time, and a study in contrasts. This drawing is a historical document, reflecting societal issues of identity and class.