Design for an Exterior Doorway and Window 1800 - 1850

This is an architectural drawing for an exterior doorway and window of unknown date, by an anonymous artist. The rigid structure of the door and window, with their classical elements, speaks to the dominant architectural styles that equated beauty with order and symmetry. But consider the unacknowledged hands that built these structures. The labor of enslaved Africans, for instance, were foundational to the economic system that supported such displays of architectural prowess. Moreover, architecture has historically been a male-dominated profession. The fact that the artist remains anonymous opens up avenues to question whose visions and voices are privileged, and whose are silenced within these historical narratives. This drawing then invites us to think about the stories and experiences embedded in the very buildings that shape our environments. It challenges us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in design, and who gets to leave their mark on the world.