Hollywood Hotel Lobby, 1902 c. 1946

Perkins Harnly made this watercolor of a Hollywood Hotel Lobby in 1902. Note the material abundance on display – sturdy wood columns, brickwork, and plush furniture, all meticulously depicted with a delicate touch. Harnly invites us to consider the processes of production that underpin such material comfort. The architecture’s solid construction, the making of upholstered furniture, and the craftsmanship of decorative elements all speak to skilled labor and the resources required to create this luxurious interior. The subdued colors and the artist’s fine handling of the watercolor medium give a sense of realism, reflecting the social context of early 20th-century America. By focusing on such details, Harnly’s painting challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the labor, materials, and cultural values embedded in everyday surroundings.