Chippendale Side Chair 1935 - 1942

John Garay rendered this Chippendale Side Chair with graphite, watercolor, and gouache. Looking at the image, we can see that the design of this chair evokes 18th-century British furniture. Styles like Chippendale were statements of wealth and taste, reflecting the owner's place within a hierarchical social order. But Garay made this piece in the United States, sometime in the 20th century. What does it mean to revisit these styles in a modern context? It's important to consider how institutions such as museums, art schools, and historical societies influence our perception and understanding of art. In this case, we should look at the colonial revival movement, which became prominent in the late 19th century, as a powerful force in shaping American artistic tastes. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context. To better understand Garay's work, one might delve into archives, period publications, and design history resources.