Sewing Box c. 1940

George H. Alexander created this watercolor painting, "Sewing Box", sometime during his lifetime, between 1855 and 1995. Alexander, an American artist, captured the domestic object with careful detail, from the sheen of the wood to the plump green cushion where needles find their rest. At first glance, the sewing box might seem like a simple, quaint object, yet it resonates with the gendered expectations of labor and leisure that shaped much of the 19th and 20th centuries. The sewing box symbolizes the domestic sphere, traditionally associated with women's work, skill, and creativity. However, Alexander, a male artist, positions himself as an observer of this world, perhaps reflecting on its value or commenting on his own distance from it. The single needle, standing upright, adds a touch of tension and narrative, inviting us to imagine the stories and labor connected to this intimate object. It prompts us to reflect on the personal and societal implications of domestic crafts, blurring the lines between utility, artistry, and identity.