Baby Chaise c. 1938

Henry Murphy created this watercolor painting, titled "Baby Chaise." Here, we observe the chaise—a carriage, an enclosed structure offering protection and mobility. Consider the wheel, an ancient symbol of the sun, of progress, and of cycles. From the chariots of antiquity to the modern automobile, the wheel propels us forward, yet always returns to its starting point. The carriage itself, a vessel, echoes the arc of life, transporting us from one stage to another. Think of the covered wagons of the American West, or the royal carriages of Europe. This baby chaise is imbued with aspirations, a desire to protect the innocence it carries, and a hope for the future. Like the Ark carrying the seeds of life after the flood, it is a safe haven, a promise of continuation, and a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of existence.