Side Chair 1935 - 1942

Nicholas Gorid designed this side chair, a watercolor and graphite on paper, with an overall dimension of 28.5 by 22.8 centimeters. The design speaks to the late 19th-century aesthetic, reflecting a period of industrial expansion and social change. Born in 1855, Gorid straddled a time when decorative arts were undergoing significant re-evaluation amid movements like the Arts and Crafts, which questioned mass production and aimed to return to handcrafted traditions. This drawing of a chair, therefore, represents more than just furniture; it encapsulates a dialogue between art, craft, and industry. The piece implies a level of craft that speaks to identity, as does the implied user of the chair: upper or middle class with a taste for a kind of modern design. Consider how this piece reflects society's aspirations and anxieties, mirroring the personal experience of sitting and contemplating one's place within it.