Design for Three Hat or Coat Racks 1815 - 1840

Here we see a watercolor design for three hat or coat racks, made by an anonymous artist. The composition presents three variations of functional objects, each rendered with a keen eye for form and utility. Each design employs a unique configuration of lines and shapes. Notice the rack on the left: the circular element is intersected by jutting arms and capped with geometric forms that evoke the avant-garde spirit of constructivism. By contrast, the central design offers a more traditional, symmetrical structure. This design seems to be intended for more formal settings. The third rack echoes the clean, utilitarian aesthetic found in Bauhaus designs. While purely functional in intent, these designs hint at the intersection of art and everyday life, embodying the modernist impulse to find beauty in the practical. The artist’s attention to form elevates what might be seen as mundane objects into studies of spatial arrangement and design.