Wall Painting 1939

This watercolor and graphite wall painting was created by Edward Jewett, an American artist who lived from 1855 to 1995. Although we don’t know exactly when this piece was made, his lifetime spans a period of immense social and cultural change. Jewett’s design feels like a negotiation between the old world and the new, doesn't it? The floral motifs and classical Greek key pattern evoke tradition, stability, and an established hierarchy. Yet, the pastel color palette and simplified forms also suggest a modern sensibility, a hint of rebellion against the rigid expectations of the past. In the context of late 19th and early 20th century America, the decorative arts were often associated with women's sphere of influence. How might we read this wall painting as an expression of gendered expectations or perhaps, a subtle subversion of them? There's an emotional tension in this piece, isn't there? It is a yearning for beauty and order, but also a quiet questioning of established norms.