Handcarved Side Chair 1937

Here we see "Handcarved Side Chair," a piece by Cornelius Christoffels made with pen and watercolor over graphite. Christoffels, working in the early to mid-20th century, captured this chair's design, likely influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement's emphasis on handcrafted objects. The chair, with its ornamental carvings and patterned seat, evokes a sense of domesticity and craftsmanship. As you look closer, consider the labor involved in its creation. The Arts and Crafts movement sought to counteract industrialization by reviving traditional crafts, often challenging the class divisions inherent in mass production. While the movement aimed for social reform, it also romanticized pre-industrial societies, sometimes overlooking the realities of labor and social inequality. Think about the hands that carved the wood and wove the fabric. What stories do they hold? The chair embodies a desire for authenticity and connection to the past, but it also invites reflection on the complexities of labor, class, and the idealization of craftsmanship.