Borrowed Time 

Jeff Jamison’s painting, "Borrowed Time," captures a scene of everyday leisure, prompting questions about the social rituals and spaces we create. This piece seems less concerned with individual portraits and more interested in the collective atmosphere of a bar. Made in the USA, its generalized forms and muted tones encourage us to reflect on the role of bars in American social life, places for both celebration and contemplation. The architecture frames the figures. This could imply something about the ways in which our behavior is mediated by the kinds of social and commercial institutions we participate in. Is there a sense of luxury or a more ambiguous sense of isolation in the image? As art historians, we need to consider the economic factors that sustain such establishments, the historical norms of socializing and the power dynamics inherent in these settings. By studying advertising, social etiquette manuals, and even popular music, we can better understand the complex meanings embedded in such seemingly simple scenes.