Chest of Drawers 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is Arthur Mathews's "Chest of Drawers," a watercolor drawing created sometime between 1935 and 1942. It's interesting how a simple piece of furniture can be rendered with such detail. What symbolic weight do you find in this everyday object? Curator: The chest of drawers, seemingly mundane, actually carries a profound symbolism relating to the preservation of memory and the unfolding of identity. Each drawer represents a layer of the self, holding secrets, stories, and cherished objects. What kind of cultural memories are evoked through such an image for you? Editor: I suppose it does suggest a sense of hidden intimacy, of a personal world tucked away. Is there a significance to its plainness or perhaps the specific period it was drawn? Curator: Precisely. Its unadorned aesthetic reflects a period grappling with shifting social values, a certain retreat from ostentation to focus on the essentials. Also, the act of rendering furniture like this could be an investigation into how we encase and present aspects of the self. It reflects a deep dive into psychological realms too. Does this idea of inner worlds find relevance for you as a young editor and artist? Editor: Yes, absolutely. The way we present ourselves is definitely something my generation thinks about constantly. So the idea that a chest of drawers might symbolize that resonates quite strongly. Curator: Indeed, and consider also how the drawer, often a dark, enclosed space, functions as a visual metaphor for the unconscious. Do you feel that Matthews encourages us to think about objects having souls or spirits too? Editor: I never thought of furniture quite like that before, as almost a map of a person. Now, looking at the craftsmanship, the wood grain...it all seems charged with potential meaning. It makes you consider the object's aura too. Curator: It's an intriguing lens, isn’t it? Ordinary objects reveal hidden depths when we examine them with such attentiveness, prompting exploration of cultural and psychological undercurrents.