Periwinkle House 1918

Dean Cornwell painted 'Periwinkle House' with oils, but the exact date is unknown. In this painting, Cornwell presents us with a scene of high society, a crowded ballroom filled with men in dark suits and women in vibrant, voluminous dresses. Cornwell, an American artist, was working in the first half of the twentieth century, a period of shifting social structures and increasing interest in the lives of the wealthy. The scene, reminiscent of 19th-century European aristocracy, appears almost dreamlike. The artist's loose brushstrokes and the figures create a sense of movement and energy. The clothing and hairstyles suggest an interest in historical themes and the romanticism of the past. Is Cornwell offering a critique of the social elite, or is he glorifying their lifestyle? As historians, we can examine the painting through the lens of social and economic history. The diaries, letters, newspapers, and periodicals of the time can provide us with the resources needed to better understand the social context of the art.