Work Table c. 1939

John Dana made this watercolor painting of a "Work Table" in the United States, but without a date, it's difficult to know exactly when. What is striking here is how the artist has chosen to represent a piece of furniture. The lyre-shaped legs and decorative carvings situate it within a tradition of craftsmanship that looked back to classical forms. Perhaps this object was intended to evoke an image of refined taste and high social status, at a time when America's own social hierarchies were becoming ever more pronounced. But by painting it rather than building or buying it, Dana seems to be engaging in a commentary on the relationship between art, labor, and social class. To understand more fully, we would need to research the history of furniture design, decorative arts, and the American class system. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork remains contingent on its historical and cultural context.