Chair c. 1936

George Nelson made this drawing of a chair using watercolor and graphite. Nelson was an important figure in the history of design in America and he was known for his modernist aesthetic, which emphasized simplicity, functionality, and affordability. This drawing depicts a chair in a traditional style, perhaps a Queen Anne or Chippendale. The design suggests a kind of historicism, referencing the 18th century. In the context of the mid-20th century, we might ask what it means to represent something old in a new way. Was this Nelson’s way of commenting on historical forms? To understand this work better, one might look at Nelson’s archives, the history of Herman Miller (where he worked) or the broader context of design history. What does it tell us about the relationship between art, design, and society?