Skylight panel from a set of six 1913

This is a skylight panel from a set of six, made by William Gray Purcell. The panel is a symphony of geometric order and subtle color play, immediately drawing the eye upwards. The design uses a grid-like structure, with squares and rectangles in shades of green, yellow, and orange. This arrangement may bring to mind the Prairie School architectural movement, where structural elements are celebrated as integral to the overall design. Purcell is playing with ideas of light and space, manipulating how light filters through the colored glass. The skylight presents a structured view of the outside world, framing and organizing the natural light. This tension between nature and structure mirrors broader philosophical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment. The panel’s rigorous design reflects an effort to find harmony between form and function, demonstrating how even decorative arts can engage with complex structural and philosophical ideas.