Untitled 

Harrison Fisher created this untitled drawing during the height of his career as an illustrator. Fisher epitomized the image of the ‘American Girl’; an aesthetic ideal of white femininity in the early 20th century. This drawing depicts two women; a young lady reading a letter, and a maid pouring tea. The intimacy of this scene speaks to the rigid societal norms of the period, where class lines were strongly defined. Note the contrast in dress and demeanor; The lady, in her fine gown, sits comfortably, absorbed in personal correspondence, while the maid diligently attends to her duties. This division of labor, deeply entrenched in the social hierarchy, reinforces the economic disparities and limited opportunities for working-class women. The emotional nuances of this drawing remind us of the human stories behind historical images. Fisher invites us to reflect on the complex layers of identity and experience within a society defined by class, gender, and race.