Sofa c. 1936

Edith Magnette rendered this drawing of a sofa with pencil and watercolor on paper. Born into a period of significant social change, Magnette's artwork provides a glimpse into the domestic sphere that shaped bourgeois life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sofa, a symbol of comfort and status, invites contemplation on its role as a backdrop for intimate conversations, social gatherings, and moments of personal reflection. What narratives are woven into its fabric? Does it uphold traditional notions of femininity and domesticity, or does it offer a space for subversion and resistance? Perhaps the sofa was a silent witness to the changing roles of women, the rise of consumer culture, and the shifting dynamics of family life. Its floral patterns and soft textures seem to whisper stories of comfort and constraint. As you contemplate this drawing, consider how seemingly ordinary objects can reflect and shape the complexities of human experience.