Side Chair 1805 - 1812

This Side Chair, made from wood and upholstery, and held in the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a fascinating intersection of form and function. The chair is anonymous, embodying the complex dynamics of labor and artistry, raising questions about whose stories are told and whose are omitted. Seating is central to power dynamics. Consider who had access to such seating, what their position in society was, and how this simple object might reflect broader social hierarchies. Side chairs like these were typical of the Neoclassical style, which visually and ideologically aligned with a sense of reason and order during times of revolution and social change. The delicate carving and elegant lines suggest a cultivated lifestyle, but also an adherence to conventional taste. The chair invites us to reflect on the relationship between utility, status, and aesthetic expression.