Window c. 1913

William Gray Purcell made this ‘Window’ sometime around the start of the 20th century with glass, lead, and wood. I can imagine him hunched over a workbench, carefully cutting the panes of glass and joining them together with lead, building it up piece by piece. The composition is constructed with a large clear space, surrounded by a series of geometric forms, including a diamond shape at the top. The colours are mostly subdued: pale yellows, greens, and browns, with some vibrant blues and purples. I can see the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as the wider Arts and Crafts movement with its emphasis on craftsmanship, natural materials, and the integration of art and architecture. I wonder what Purcell was thinking about when he made this? Perhaps he imagined the interplay of light and shadow, and how the glass would filter and transform the world outside. You can see him having a conversation with the other artists and architects of his time.