Hitchcock Chair c. 1940

This is Genevieve Sherlock’s ‘Hitchcock Chair’ rendering. The combination of organic motifs and geometric forms creates a study of contrasts. At first glance, the design presents a symmetrical arrangement, yet it is alive with botanical forms that break any strict uniformity. The basket of fruit is central, flanked by flowers, leaves and grapes which spill outward, their tendrils and curves playing against the basket’s rigid grid. The interplay between these elements—the ordered and the untamed—suggests a tension which is further explored by the palette. Earthy browns ground the composition, while highlights in shades of light yellow illuminate the fruits, suggesting a vitality that is enhanced by the dark basket. This contrast might also reflect the cultural codes where the natural world is contained, cultivated and presented within the boundaries of domestic life. The decorative rendering invites us to consider how meaning is constructed through careful arrangement of form, colour, and context. A formal exercise in how design can communicate layers of cultural meaning.