Pullman Coach c. 1940

Perkins Harnly, born in 1901, rendered this evocative watercolor of a Pullman Coach, an emblem of luxury travel during a time marked by stark social divisions. The opulence depicted, with its plush furnishings and ornate details, presents a stark contrast to the realities faced by many. The Pullman Company, while offering employment to African Americans, particularly as porters, also enforced a rigid class structure. These workers, often underpaid and subjected to discriminatory practices, played a crucial role in maintaining the comfort and status of affluent white passengers. The image invites us to consider the labor and sacrifices that underpinned this vision of luxury. Harnly’s choice to focus on the aesthetic grandeur, absent of human presence, prompts reflection on whose stories are told and whose are obscured. It captures a moment frozen in time, rich in visual detail, yet layered with complex social dynamics.