Side Chair 1936

Editor: This is Lawrence Phillips' "Side Chair," created in 1936. It's a watercolor and pencil drawing, and the muted tones give it such a quiet, almost dreamlike quality. The chair legs are a bit unusual, and I wonder, what jumps out at you when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, a chair! But not just any chair, is it? It's interesting how Phillips elevates such an everyday object through the delicate rendering of pencil and watercolor. Notice the lyre motif on the backrest? A symbol steeped in classical antiquity, referencing music, harmony, and Apollo, the god of the arts. I find myself wondering about its purpose. Was it a design proposal? A study? A quiet moment captured in a world moving too fast. And those claw feet! Do you think they were a playful touch? Editor: It is interesting the blend of the everyday object and the claw feet. I would not know what to do with that chair. You mentioned the classical reference; I wonder how intentional or even ironic it was. Do you think that Phillips' intentions behind choosing this piece could have meaning for viewers today? Curator: That's the delicious paradox of art, isn't it? It speaks to its own time and somehow manages to whisper across decades. The "how" isn't as important as the "what." Phillips, I imagine, felt a pull to order, form, even a touch of the whimsical amid the brewing chaos of the late '30s. What meaning is entirely personal, isn’t it? What whispers does it have for you? Editor: For me, it underscores that beauty and art can be found in ordinary, everyday things. Maybe the whimsy gives license for one to have some fun in their design? Curator: Exactly! It makes me wonder, perhaps our world could use more side chairs. The beauty, the form, the symbolism is delightful, and the meaning so open for interpretation. This drawing has given me a craving for harmony and maybe even a reevaluation of my own furniture choices!