Design for Three Chairs with Red, Green and Blue Seats 1800 - 1850

"Design for Three Chairs with Red, Green and Blue Seats" is a watercolor drawing by an anonymous artist. We might consider the symbolism inherent in the arrangement of furniture. Who gets a seat at the table, and what does that seat look like? The colours, traditionally associated with royalty, fertility and wealth, signal a certain status, that is affirmed through the detailed rendering. There is an emotional resonance in such careful designs. Each chair, distinct yet unified, hints at individual identities within a collective space. The design of these chairs could be read as a subtle commentary on identity, and class within the domestic space. Think about the stories these chairs could tell about who sat in them, what conversations they witnessed, and how they reflect the values and aspirations of their time.