Drawer Pull c. 1936

Janet Riza, born in 1855, rendered this detailed drawing of a drawer pull, capturing not just its form but also its intricate textures and subtle gleam. During Riza’s life, the roles of women in art and design were often circumscribed, and crafts like furniture design were frequently relegated to the domestic sphere. Looking at this piece, I think of those boundaries and wonder how her gender influenced her creative path. Her work invites us to consider questions about utility, artistry, and the gendered division of labor. Did she think of the drawer pull as a functional object or a piece of sculpture? The work also resonates with themes of access and exclusion. Through her sensitive rendering, Riza elevates an object of everyday use, inviting us to reflect on the narratives embedded within our material world.