Sculpture Gallery 35 1939

Eggers and Higgins made this gallery rendering in 1937 using graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper. The building materials proposed here – marble, travertine, and plaster – are typical of classical architecture, evoking permanence and grandeur. Yet, these materials also reflect specific labor practices. Extracting marble requires intensive quarrying, while skilled artisans are needed for carving and installation. Plaster, though more common, demands expertise in mixing and application to achieve a smooth finish. The clean lines and symmetrical design suggest a well-ordered space, but also potentially obscure the complex labor involved in its construction. This gallery design embodies a tension between the high ideals of art and the realities of material production. It reminds us that every aesthetic choice carries social and economic implications. Appreciating the artist’s vision means recognizing the often-invisible hands that bring it to life.